| Melrakkaey | |
| Pushpin Map: | Iceland |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Iceland |
| Location: | Breiðafjörður Bay |
| Coordinates: | 64.9849°N -23.3027°W |
| Area Km2: | 0.73 |
| Country: | Iceland |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Constituency |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Northwest |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Region |
| Country Admin Divisions 1: | Western Region |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 2: | Municipality |
| Country Admin Divisions 2: | Grundarfjörður |
Melrakkaey (in Icelandic pronounced as /ˈmɛlˌrahkaˌeiː/; lit. Fox Island) is a small, uninhabited island located in the Grundarfjörður municipality in Western Iceland.
The island has been declared a protected area. Consequently, entering the island without permission or hunting within a 2 km radius of the island is prohibited.
Throughout its history, Melrakkaey has been used as a source of food by locals.[1] The ocean surrounding the island provided fish and fishing outposts were built on the island, many bird species call the basalt cliffs of Melrakkaey home, providing a stable source of meat and eggs. Furthermore, the Island was used as a larder by locals.
Melrakkaey was a possession of the Setberg since the 14th century. Setberg came into the ownership of Melrakkaey when a local elderly woman lost her two sons at sea and pledged the island to the church.
The reverends of Setberg used the island to farm hay every summer and a house was built on the island to accommodate workers.
Due to the island being a possession of Setberg, Danish sailors called the island "The Reverend’s Island".[2]
In 1971, Malrakkaey became a protected area to protect the bird population on the island.[3]