"The industry will have to offer possible solutions, the challenges cannot be solved at the political level alone", this is announced in a press release from Naalakkersuisoq for Fisheries Peter Borg about the shrimp factory that is threatened with closure.
The prospect of one of Aasiaat's largest workplaces closing has caused great concern in the city, as 116 employees risk losing their jobs, which will have far-reaching consequences for the local area.
- I have an ongoing dialogue with the companies, both separately and together to find solutions. Most recently, Polar Seafood Greenland A/S submitted proposals for various solutions on 23 February 2026. I therefore expect to convene a dialogue meeting again as soon as possible to discuss these and any other options. A solution must be found in dialogue with the industry – and not in the media, states Peter Borg.
No lifeline
He thereby signals that he does not currently have a Self-Government-financed lifeline that can reassure the citizens of Aasiaat.
Polar Seafood's director and co-owner, Bent Salling, stated last week to Sermitsiaq that the company had been in dialogue with Royal Greenland, but that they could not find a sustainable solution together that would secure the future of the shrimp factory.
The situation has caused great concern – not least in the local community, where the local political Siumut group has demanded that the mayor convene an extraordinary municipal council, which Sermitsiaq mentioned over the weekend.
Naleraq: Committee must respond
Naleraq's member of the municipal council in Avannaata Kommunia and member of the fisheries committee in Inatsisartut Jens NapãtôK' also views the matter with great concern, Sermitsiaq learns.
Jens NapãtôK' calls for action from the fisheries committee.
- As a committee in Inatsisartut, we have a responsibility to gather information and contribute to creating solutions – not just leave the matter to dialogue between the companies, writes the Naleraq politician to the committee and has requested that the matter be reopened in the committee.
The responsibility
- It is crucial that the committee lives up to its responsibility and does not simply leave the matter to a dialogue process without political involvement, states Jens NapãtôK', who looks forward to a quick feedback from the fisheries committee.
The market has changed
There are no easy solutions, as shrimp quotas have been reduced by 35 percent in just a few years, and the country has four shrimp factories, with Polar Seafoods and Royal Greenland each having two.
And who will ultimately adapt to the new conditions is the big question, where blades cross between a privately owned company and a debt-laden self-governing company.
