In Disko Bay, Uummannaq and Upernavik as well as in the so-called management area 47, owners of tradable halibut quotas must fish at least 75 percent of their quota according to the current Fisheries Act.
If a fisherman has not fished at least 75 percent of his annual quota in the past three years, he will be obliged from New Year’s to sell the part of the quota that has not been fished. If this does not happen, Naalakkersuisut will sell the quota on behalf of the owner, because that is what the rules in the Fisheries Act say.
In Disko Bay, Uummannaq and Upernavik as well as in the so-called management area 47, owners of tradable halibut quotas must fish at least 75 percent of their quota according to the current Fisheries Act.
If a fisherman has not fished at least 75 percent of his annual quota in the past three years, he will be obliged from New Year’s to sell the part of the quota that has not been fished. If this does not happen, Naalakkersuisut will sell the quota on behalf of the owner, because that is what the rules in the Fisheries Act say.
Sermitsiaq last week described all the parties as well as naalakkersuisoq’s position on the requirement to utilize 75 percent of the quotas.
It happened in connection with the fact that all three fishing organizations in Greenland have, unusually enough, turned to naalakkersuisoq for fishing together. One of the wishes in the inquiry is that the requirement to utilize 75 percent of the quota be suspended for five years.
Jerimiassen: Our position has not changed, but we are adapting
Inuit Ataqatigiit was the only party against the suspension of the requirement last week. The party believed that the fishermen should fish up to 75 percent of their quota, but that position has now changed. Now they have the same position as the other parties.
– The requirement of 75 percent cannot be met now. We cannot have legislation that the fishermen cannot meet. That is why we in Inuit Ataqatigiit have listened to the three organizations’ message about a five-year suspension, says Kristian Jerimiassen (IA) to Sermitsiaq.
What has happened since you changed your position and now think the same as your coalition partners?
– We have to continually adapt. In this way, we can achieve the best possible result in the future. I am not saying that our attitudes are changing, but yes, we are adapting, he says.
Many risk losing their quotas
Sermitsiaq learned at the beginning of October that only 50 of 694 quota owners in administrative area 47 have met the requirement so far this year. This means that if the current law is not changed, hundreds of halibut fishermen will have to sell their valuable, personally owned halibut quotas.
It now seems very likely that this law will be changed. All parties in Inatsisartut demand it now.
The demand for 75 percent utilization of the quotas was recently hotly debated in Inatsisartut in connection with the parliament considering another amendment to the Fisheries Act.
