SURTSEY: THE STORY OF A YOUNG ISLAND

Surtsey: The story of a young island. Fish Focus’ latest feature follows our trip to the Icelandic archipelago, Vestmannaeyjar.

Rising from the North Atlantic off Iceland’s southern coast, Surtsey is one of the youngest islands on Earth, and one of the most scientifically important.

Born from fire beneath the sea, this small island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago has offered researchers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch nature begin again from scratch.

Surtsey’s dramatic story began on 14 November 1963, when a volcanic eruption broke through the ocean floor and continued, on and off, until 5 June 1967. At first, the eruption went unnoticed, although it had probably been rumbling beneath the waves for hours or even days before the first visible signs appeared above the surface.

Those first signs were spotted not by scientists, but by fishermen. Early on the morning of 14 November, the crew of the fishing vessel Ísleifur II from Vestmannaeyjar were hauling their lines some seven kilometres west of Geirfuglaskeri, then Iceland’s southernmost point, when they saw smoke and ash rising from the sea. Molten rock was bursting through the water, signalling the birth of a new island.

As lava and ash accumulated, layers of volcanic material gradually rose above the waves. From Heimaey, residents watched as the sea quite literally gave up new land. The eruption paused several times, including a brief lull on 1 December 1963 when all activity ceased for four hours and the ocean appeared calm once more.

During that quiet spell, seabirds circled and landed on the still-warm rock, likely becoming the first living creatures to set foot on Surtsey. By the spring of 1964, the island had grown to around one square kilometre and was officially named Surtsey, after Surtr, the fire giant of Norse mythology.

From the very beginning, Surtsey was recognised as something extraordinary. In 1965, while the eruption was still ongoing, it was declared a protected nature reserve. Access was restricted to scientists only, ensuring that the island’s development could unfold without human interference.

That protection has paid dividends and Surtsey has become a living laboratory, allowing scientists to study how life colonises completely new land. Researchers have closely tracked how seeds arrive by wind and waves, how birds introduce new species, and how fragile ecosystems take hold in barren volcanic rock.

The first plants, mosses and lichens, appeared in the late 1960s. Over time, grasses and flowering plants followed. Today, more than 70 plant species have been recorded on the island, supported in part by seabirds whose nesting colonies enrich the soil with nutrients.

Marine life plays a role too. Seals regularly haul out on Surtsey’s rocky shores, while insects and spiders occasionally arrive via air currents or floating debris. Each new arrival adds another piece to the island’s evolving ecological puzzle.

Surtsey is far from static; Powerful Atlantic waves steadily erode its coastline, while the volcanic material beneath slowly compacts, causing the island to sink. Although future eruptions could add new material, scientists estimate that Surtsey will eventually slip back beneath the sea, though not for at least another century.

Until then, this young island remains one of the world’s most valuable natural experiments. From fishermen who first witnessed its birth to scientists documenting its transformation, Surtsey continues to tell a rare and compelling story: how land emerges from the ocean, and how life, patiently and persistently, finds a way to follow.

We will be posting an article every day, covering this amazing trip and showcasing the Icelandic Seafood industry, cutting edge aquaculture, Icelandic heritage and the hospitality of the Icelandic people. You can read the whole publication here

Image: ©Ragnar Th.