As an animal historian and documentarian, I study interactions between Icelanders and aquatic animals, using oral history and film to explore the historical narratives of underwater species.
This ongoing study examines the historical presence of orcas in the coastal waters surrounding Iceland and analyzes their interactions with the Icelandic population. Covering the period from the early settlement of Iceland to the present, the research utilizes archival records, scientific literature, and oral history interviews to document and analyze orca behavior in Icelandic waters, as well as their cultural and ecological significance.
Insights gained from this study enhance understanding of human-ocean wildlife relationships in Iceland and ultimately support marine conservation initiatives. Verkefnið Háhyrningar við Ísland.
2025. I wrote a chapter titled Sharkmanship | Hákarlamennska about Icelandic shark fishing in the past. The chapter is part of the book Langt var róið og þungur sjór by the ethnographer Sigurður Ægisson – See
2025. Shark Sun | Hákarlasól is an educational documentary about the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) off the coast of Iceland. The film examines the behavior of the Greenland shark through the eyes of shark fishermen, offering a new perspective on this intriguing species—and on the relationship between Icelandic shark fishermen and the Greenland shark. Recently, direct shark fishing in Iceland has declined, and the remaining fishermen are mostly older men. Their experiences are vital for understanding the Greenland shark’s history.
TRAILER Hákarlasól | Shark sun
Documentary
Production
The documentary examines the environmental history of wild Icelandic salmon, with a particular focus on sea pen farming along the Icelandic coast in the 21st century. The goal is to examine the experiences and perspectives of river owners regarding the effects of sea pen farming on their local environment through a series of interviews. The research is supported by funding from the Icelandic Fish Breeding Fund/ Fiskræktarsjóður.
A Tale of River Kaldakvísl | a creative nonfiction essay. Ritið 3/2024, bls. 109-161. Köldukvíslarkver. Riteyja.– See
Icelandic shark fishermen out at sea: The interaction between natural forces and shark fishing. Ritið 1/2024, bls. 57-97. Hákarlamenn á hafi úti. Samspil náttúruafla og hákarlaveiða í sögu og samtíma – See
Hermit at salmon war. An essay exploring how sea pen farming impacts the life of a hermit farmer. 2024. Einbúi í eldisstríði. Heimildin. – See
The mini-documentary Hermit at Salmon War is about an Icelandic farmer’s fight against the open-net pen aquaculture business.
Women´s water and fish protection in Iceland in the past. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV). Kvenskörungar fyrri tíma sem gerðust aðgerðasinnar. Víðsjá. – See
Icelandic seawomen. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV). Konur og hafið. Víðsjá. – See
The sky wept on a wet grave. An essay on how sea pen farming affects the Icelandic fjords and their coasts. 2023. Himinn grét á vota gröf– See
Masculinity of historical shark fishermen in Iceland. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV). Karlmennskuímynd hákarlamanna fyrr á tíð. Víðsjá – See
The importance of fighting against fin whale hunting in Iceland. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV). Ríkishvalræði og langreyðar. Víðsjá – See
The mini-documentary Visiting the Trout in River Öxara showcases biologist Johannes Sturlaugsson as he visits his long-time friends, the brown trout in the Öxara River at Thingvellir National Park in Iceland, during their spawning season. Urriðinn í Öxará sóttur heim.
Animals, nature and nature conservation in the folktales of Jón Árnason. Radio lecture on the radio show Víðsjá. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV). Dýr, náttúrufar og náttúruvernd í þjóðsögum Jóns Árnasonar – See
teaching
I am the founder and director of Icelandic Aquatic Animals |Vatnaverur Íslands – an educational organization dedicated to the conservation of Icelandic marine and freshwater ecosystems. Each year, as part of my non-profit organization, I have the pleasure of teaching schoolchildren about the fascinating organisms that inhabit Icelandic aquatic ecosystems through the lens of biology, environmental ethics, and animal history (ice. dýrasaga). See webpage
2023 Oral history teacher at the University of Iceland. I taught the course Oral History (Munnlega saga) which I designed to deepen students’ comprehension of oral history methodologies and theoretical frameworks, focusing on how oral history is used in environmental and gender history. – See
2023. A guest lecturer on environmental history in the course Environmental Humanities (Umhverfishugvísindi) in the University of Iceland on ocean oral history and the Greenland shark.
2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020. Served as guest lecturer on oral history and its application in gender and environmental history for a historical methodology course at the University of Iceland (námskeiðinu Sagnfræðileg vinnubrögð).
selected lectures on animal history
- 2025. Seminar on Creative Nonfiction. University of Iceland. I gave a lecture about my nonfiction essay, “A Tale of River Kaldakvísl.” Málstofan Sannsögur. Háskóli Íslands. Flutti erindið „Fögur ertu, Kaldakvísl“ um riteyjuna mína Köldukvíslarkver – See
- 2025. “Hidden Creature in the Sea.” A presentation discussing the perspectives of 19th-century shark fishermen on Greenland sharks as both organisms and commodities at a symposium hosted by the Society for the 18th Century Studies. Erindið “Huldufiskur í hafi” fjallar um viðhorf hákarlamanna til hákarlsins sem lífveru og afurðar. Málþing Félags um átjándu aldar fræði 8. febrúar 2025. Málþingið:Veiðar við Ísland á sautjándu, átjándu og nítjándu öld.
- 2024. Ice and Water: Circular Thinking on Cultural and Environmental Sustainability. University of Iceland, 23-24 May 2024.I gave a conference lecture titled “Sharks and Men: Shark Fishing in Iceland.”
- Sharks International 2022 Conference – poster booth. – See