The three fishermen’s and trappers’ organizations KNAPK, QAK and SQAPK criticize the demand for a utilization of 75 percent in the halibut fishery in management area 47. They believe that many fishermen now risk having their own quotas reduced. The organizations also want the halibut quota, which is currently 34,000 tonnes, to be lowered to 15,000 tonnes over five years.
The fishermen’s and trappers’ organisations in Greenland rarely speaks together. We often hear that these organizations have different attitudes towards different interests within fishing.
The chairmen of the organizations throughout the country now share the concern that owners of personally owned, tradable halibut quotas in Disko Bay, Uummannaq, Upernavik and the so-called administrative area 47 risk having their quotas reduced.
According to the current Fisheries Act, at least 75 percent of the quota for individually owned halibut quotas must be fished up. If this is not achieved within three years, the individually owned, valuable quotas must be withdrawn by the department.
Sermitsiaq learns that only 50 out of 694 quota owners in these areas have met the requirement so far this year. There is therefore a significant risk that many fishermen with their own quotas may have their quotas reduced from next year.
On Thursday in Ilulissat, the heads of the organizations presented their concerns and wishes to Naalakkersuisoq for Fisheries, Catching, Agriculture and Self-Sufficiency, Peter Borg (D). Among the wishes is a temporary suspension of the utilization obligation.
– The obligation to utilize 75 percent must be suspended for five years, i.e. until 2031. During this period, fishermen must not lose their shares in quotas solely because they do not fulfill the obligation to utilize, write the chairmen.
Naalakkersuisoq for fishing: Naalakkersuisut must find a solution
The responsible naalakkersuisoq meets the fishing associations’ wishes. He says that to Sermitsiaq. He also acknowledges that Naalakkersuisut has already decided that a solution must be found.
– I now have a clearer picture of the direction the fishermen and their organizations want to go in. In Naalakkersuisut, we have reached the point where we have to find a solution to the issue of the obligation to land 75 percent. Now we have to find out what the concrete solution should be, says Peter Borg.
The majority in Inatsisartut defends the utilization obligation
At their meeting on 30 September, the members of Inatsisartut considered an inatsisartut law proposal to amend the inatsisartut law on fisheries. In the debate, the message was that the majority want halibut fishermen to fish up to 75 percent. It is therefore contrary to the wishes of the organizations and also to the approach that naalakkersuisoq has now proposed. Inatsisartut must deal with the matter in a committee. Naalakkersuisoq says this also needs to be heard.
– I also have to wait for Inatsisartut’s committee work. But we have now heard an important voice. A solution must be found. And we will also work with that as a task in Naalakkersuisut, says Peter Borg.
Organisations: Reduce halibut quotas
The coastal halibut fishery in management area 47 is not in balance when it comes to the allocated quotas. In the area, the halibut quota this year is 33,997 tonnes. At the beginning of October, around 12,500 tonnes of this quota had been caught. Thus, only about 37 percent of the quota has been fished so far.
The message from some of the chairmen of the organizations is also that, regardless of how and with which gear one fishes, it will not be possible to purchase the entire quota this year. Therefore, among other things, the organizations have also submitted a request to Naalakkersuisut for a gradual reduction of the halibut quotas in the next five years.
– The TAC for halibut in area 47 must be reduced by 15 percent per year, based on a quantity of around 34,000 tonnes. With this reduction strategy, the TAC will have fallen to around 15,000 tonnes in 2031, the heads of the organizations write to Naalakkersuisut.
