He is fresh, motivated and ready to work. But the age limit of 29 years blocks Kunuuti Kleemann’s access to the halibut fishery. He is 33 years old.
– I feel powerless and it is frustrating, Kunuuti Kleemann tells AG.
He is fresh, motivated and ready to work. But the age limit of 29 years blocks Kunuuti Kleemann’s access to the halibut fishery. He is 33 years old.
– I feel powerless and it is frustrating, Kunuuti Kleemann tells AG.
The age requirement of 18-29 years for licenses for the coastal halibut fishery was originally introduced to control how many fishermen get access to the quotas and at the same time give young people – according to naalakkersoq – a better opportunity to enter the profession, because the age distribution in the dinghy fishery was skewed.
– In the past, it has been desired both to limit the influx of new fishermen in the coastal halibut fishery and to prioritize young fishermen based on the age distribution, especially in the coastal dinghy fishery, answers naalakkersuisoq for fishing, catching, agriculture and self-sufficiency, Peter Borg, in a written reply.
It has not been possible for the AG to have an oral or follow-up interview with him, who has therefore responded in writing.
Rejection of rejection
Kunuuti Kleemann lives in Nuuk with her boyfriend and their two children. He has a high school education, attended business school and is trained as a concrete worker. Last summer he decided to try fishing.
Although he has an educational background from the book system and is a trained concrete worker, after ten years in the profession he found that the work no longer gave him the motivation he was looking for.
Therefore, he chose to try fishing, which he experiences as more meaningful and closer to the way of life he wants. A life with a greater connection to nature and the sea.
– Now! It brings joy. Being alone, working alone, and it’s me who decides. Being close to nature is just something for me, he says.
Initially, it was not the plan for him to fish for halibut when he applied for a commercial licence. However, after a few months of cod fishing, the desire arose, as he gained more knowledge of the conditions in the sea and the fishing seasons.
– For example, the cod spawn during this period and are further into the fjords. Therefore, it would be a great advantage to also be able to fish for halibut right now, says Kunuuti Kleemann.
He tells the AG that he has applied for a halibut fishing license three times, but has been refused each time.
– I consider myself a patient man, but that requires a lot of energy. I know I can and want to work, but I don’t have the opportunity. It feels as if it is beyond my rights, he says.
Quota adjustment
As can be read further up, naalakkersuisoq for fisheries, Peter Borg, explains that the age requirement was introduced to ensure a controlled approach of new fishermen and to adapt the capacity to the quotas that are available. At the same time, they wanted to give priority to young fishermen, as the age distribution in coastal dinghy fishing was skewed.
– Precisely the age requirement in halibut fishing has been necessary to ensure that there was a sufficient number of fish per player. This means that the capacity matches the quotas that are available and at the same time ensures that new labor was added to the fishery, says Peter Borg.
To the question that the Self-Government has made a legal assessment of whether the age restriction can be considered indirect discrimination, he replies:
– There is no question of illegal age discrimination, which is contrary to the general principles of equality, by introducing restrictions and setting requirements to gain access to fishing – nor by introducing an age requirement, the answer states.
According to naalakkersuisoq, the demand is justified in the general interest of society, and the Ombudsman for Inatsisartut has previously assessed the case without finding grounds for criticism.
The department also emphasizes that it is common to set requirements in order to gain access to certain rights or opportunities – for example the age limit for obtaining a driving licence.
For Kunuuti Kleemann, the rule is experienced as a severe limitation. He says that at one point the pressure became so great that he considered selling the family’s condominium, but chose not to do so. The thoughts arose during a period characterized by frustration and the feeling of being stuck in the case.
– I hope something is done about it soon. It’s very frustrating because I can’t change my age, says Kunuuti Kleemann.
Naalakkersuisut has sent a new order for consultation, where the age requirement is proposed to be removed. The question is therefore whether fishermen like Kunuuti Kleemann will have easier access to the profession in the future.
