Poking out of the North Atlantic depths at the western edge of the Norwegian Sea, mostly fitting in the bounds of 14–24 degrees West longitude and 64–66 degrees North latitude, Iceland was and to a large degree still is a stronghold for Atlantic salmon.

Although its northernmost island satellite Grímsey rests squarely on the Arctic Circle, Iceland is a surprisingly temperate place. Cold polar currents mix with volcanic seeps in its offshore waters and a warm tendril from the Gulf Stream curls north then eastward over the top of the island. This melding of waters is the catalyst for a nutrient-rich marine environment. Salmon here feed and thrive on small arthropods and an abundance of forage fish such as pilchard and capelin, so much so they seldom stray beyond coastal waters.

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