"Lífið er saltfiskur", "Life is salt fish" or "La vida es bacalao" in Spanish is a common Icelandic phrase, referring to cod fish being Iceland's most valuable export product since the 16th century. Traditionally the cod was salted and dried outdoors by the wind and the sun but today the more common method is "wet salted" only, i.e. salted but not dried. 

Icelandic saltfish - bacalao - has long been a sought after delicacy. 

The reason is pure raw material and quality processing.