According to the statutes for net fishing in Avannaata Kommunia, halibut can be fished with nets in the administrative area of Upernavik in January, March, April, May, November and December.
Climate change means that there are later ice sheets in North Greenland compared to before. This gives the vessels the opportunity to fish for a longer period in the winter. Therefore, the fishermen’s association in Upernavik, UAPAP, proposed that the administrative area closes net fishing for halibut in May and in return opens for fishing in February.
According to the statutes for net fishing in Avannaata Kommunia, halibut can be fished with nets in the administrative area of Upernavik in January, March, April, May, November and December.
Climate change means that there are later ice sheets in North Greenland compared to before. This gives the vessels the opportunity to fish for a longer period in the winter. Therefore, the fishermen’s association in Upernavik, UAPAP, proposed that the administrative area closes net fishing for halibut in May and in return opens for fishing in February.
The municipal board is responsible for the preparation of municipal bylaws and on 26 February 2026 adopted a new bylaw for Avannaata Kommunia on fishing for halibut and cod with nets in Disko Bay, which will come into force on 26 March 2026. However, UAPAP’s wish has not yet been incorporated into the bylaws, Avannaata Kommunia informs.
The matter must be heard
According to the bylaws for commercial net fishing in the administrative area of Upernavik in Avannaata Kommunia, the municipality can – after consulting the users – close fishing with nets if it is not possible to avoid the loss of nets due to icebergs. It is the municipal council that must ensure that hearings are carried out correctly and in accordance with current guidelines.
The case is ongoing
Municipal board member in Avannaata Kommunia, Arnaq N. Eskildsen (Naleraq), has made a point in the municipal board based on a request from the fishermen’s association in Upernavik, UAPAP, to open net fishing for halibut in February instead of May.
However, she pointed out that the process of changing the rules was already started last year.
– The municipal council’s fishing and catching committee was in Upernavik and in the settlements last year to hear the fishermen’s wishes for changes to the rules for net fishing for halibut.
– The fishermen want changes in the limits for net fishing and in the permitted fishing months.
– There is a need to update the current rules, and the work to get it done is now underway, she says.
Avannaata Kommunia expects more tax revenue if net fishing for halibut in the winter months at Upernavik can take place for a longer period.
Need to go to Ilulissat
Lauritz Immanuelsen Christiansen is a boat operator and chairman of the fishermen’s association in Upernavik, UAPAP.
He says that although it is possible to fish with nets in the winter months at Upernavik, net fishing is closed in February according to the rules. Therefore he had to go to Ilulissat.
– Due to changed ice conditions, it is now possible to fish with nets in the Upernavik area all winter. But because according to the rules, February is closed for net fishing, fishing must be stopped, he says.
Lauritz Immanuelsen Christiansen’s boat, Olava, therefore had to sail to the area of Ilulissat with three men on board to fish.
– We have previously applied to have the articles of association changed, but this has not yet happened. We have families in Upernavik, which is why we want to fish up there.
– But we had to fish in Ilulissat, and that is of course a shame, he says.
Lauritz Immanuelsen Christiansen believes that a change to the rules for net fishing will not only benefit the fishermen, but also the fish factories and their employees.
