– Criticizing the Greenland Government has worked

We've heard it before. That trawler companies are criticizing Naalakkersuisut for not getting enough fishing quotas.

Demokraatits Peter Borg, Naalakkersuisoq for Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-Sustainability, has now chosen to award Sikuaq Trawl A/S a large outside quota of 2,556 tons of cod in East Greenland this year.

Peter Borg and thus Naalakkersuisut have thus surprisingly chosen to bow to the strong criticism from Carl Christensen, CEO and main owner of Sikuaq Trawl A/S.

The shipping company's brash CEO and main owner did not mince words in an article in Sermitsiaq on 9 January when criticizing Naalakkersuisut.

Praise to Peter Borg

Firstly, he was disappointed that the company had not received any cod quota in West Greenland in 2026. Secondly, he was upset that two Greenlandic companies with strong foreign interests, i.e. Icelandic and Faroese interests, had received quotas in West Greenland.

But now there is joy and optimism in Sikuaq Trawl A/S over Peter Borg and Naalakkersuisut's allocation of a large quota of cod in East Greenland waters:

- We are satisfied with being allocated cod in Dohrn Banke, as it means that our trawler Svend C has enough quota for year-round fishing, says Carl Christensen to Sermitsiaq.

He also has praise for Naalakkersuisoq's Peter Borg.

- We have had a good and constructive meeting with Naalakkersuisoq, who seem calm and competent. Now we are looking ahead, says the director.

That is why Sikuaq was disappointed

Naalakkersuisut's allocation of cod quota on Dohrn Banke in East Greenland to Sikuaq Trawl A/S, as mentioned, comes in the wake of Carl Christensen in Sermitsiaq on 9 January expressing disappointment that the shipping company had been rejected for an application for a cod quota in West Greenland.

He said at the time that Naalakkersuisut's rejection would mean that the company's trawler would have to be at the quay for a significant part of 2026, as the allocated quotas for shrimp and mackerel were far from enough for year-round fishing for the trawler.

“Therefore, we are looking into an uncertain future as long as we only have shrimp and mackerel to fish,” said Carl Christensen.

He pointed out that Sikuaq Trawl A/S is a 100 percent locally based and financially robust company with many years of experience.

Carl Christensen also emphasized that Sikuaq Trawl A/S has always been among the shrimp companies with the highest prices for the raw materials and has given the best salaries to the crews.

- In this way the company has contributed well to Greenlandic society, he said.

On December 18, the Greenlandic Government distributed the cod quota for the offshore fishery in West Greenland for 2026. The quota is a total of 16,000 tonnes. The quota is divided between eight companies, five of which were allocated quotas in 2025.

Arctic Prime Fisheries ApS, M/Tr Claudia, and Tuullik A/S are new to the offshore cod fishery in West Greenland this year. The old favorites that will once again receive cod quotas in West Greenland this year are Royal Greenland A/S, Polar Seafood Greenland A/S, Sigguk A/S, and Qaleralik A/S.

Gudmundur and Hanus

Carl Christensen is known in his communication for acting directly, making clear statements, and expressing his opinion.

In connection with the quota distribution, Sikuaq Trawl was upset that the Greenlandic Government had allocated cod quotas in West Greenland to companies with strong foreign interests.

This was stated by Carl Christensen in Sermitsiaq on January 9.

He was referring specifically to the companies Arctic Prime Fisheries ApS and Arsuk Food ApS. The chairman of the board of Arctic Prime Fisheries ApS, which is owned by Arctic Prime Coastal ApS, is the powerful Icelandic businessman, Gudmundur Kristjánsson. Línuskip ehf., which is 100% owned by Kristjánsson, owns just under a third of Arctic Prime Fisheries.

The Faroese fishing group P/F JFK owns just under 20% of Arsuk Food ApS through the company Malik Seafood ApS. The shipowner and main owner of P/F JFK is Hanus Hansen.

Carl Christensen: - Tragicomic

- I understand well if people in Iceland and the Faroe Islands laugh at us Greenlanders. Instead of fully investing in local companies, precious cod quotas are now being given to companies with strong foreign interests. That is tragicomic, said Carl Christensen in early January.

After being allocated more than 2,500 tons of cod in East Greenland waters this year, Sikuaq Trawl is now in full swing planning the conversion of Svend C from shrimp fishing to cod fishing, and expects to start fishing for cod on Dohrn Banke before the mackerel season.

- As when we fish for shrimp, we expect to get good prices for cod, and thus contribute positively to Greenlandic society via taxes and duties, says Carl Christensen.

In addition to the recently allocated quota of 2,256 tonnes of offshore cod in East Greenland, Sikuaq Trawl has a quota of 4,495 tonnes of shrimp in West Greenland, around 150 tonnes of redfish in East Greenland in 2026 and expects a quota of mackerel in the international zone.

The Greenlandic government has not yet set the Greenlandic mackerel quota for this year. According to Chief Consultant Iben Funch Døj at the Department of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-Sustainability, this is expected to happen during the spring.