IOK still interesting

In connection with the new Fisheries Act coming into force last year, 450 dinghy fishermen in management area 47 – which includes Disko Bay, Uummannaq and Upernavik – were transferred from Olympic fisheries to private, individually tradable quotas (IOK).

According to information from the Department of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-Sustainability, in 2026 there were 68 applicants to be transferred to fishing under IOK in management area 47.

Six of them have withdrawn their applications, bringing the total number admitted to the scheme to 62 this year.

The fishing organizations expect that more dinghy fishermen will switch to IOK in the coming years.

Fishermen hesitate

It is not surprising that 62 dinghy fishermen in management area 47 have switched to fishing under IOK this year, says Anthon Lindenhann, chairman of the coastal fishing and hunting organization SQAPK.

When switching to IOK, the quotas are set based on the catches in the three best years within the past five years. According to him, many dinghy fishermen are disappointed with the quotas allocated, and this is one of the reasons why they hesitate to switch to the scheme, he believes.

– Many dinghy fishermen who fish on Olympic fisheries are interested in switching to IOK, but they fear that they will not get enough fish if they switch to the scheme. This may be one of the reasons why there have not been so many transfers to IOK this year, he says.

In management area 47, Olympic fixed quotas were transferred to ensure that halibut fishing could continue until the end of last year.

Anthon Lindenhann emphasizes that the conditions for Olympic fixed quotas are no worse than for IOK fishermen, and that many are therefore still hesitant to switch to the scheme.

Limited benefits

The Minister of Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture, Peter Borg from the Democrats, has previously pointed out that IOK quotas can be used as collateral for bank loans.

But it is still difficult, says the chairman of SQAPK.

– IOK is a good scheme when used correctly, and it is also an advantage that the quotas can be sold from fisherman to fisherman.

– But if IOC quotas become more easily available as collateral for bank loans, I expect that more Olympic fixers will transfer their quotas to IOC in the coming years, says Anthon Lindenhann.

If you have switched to IOC to fish for halibut in area 47, you cannot return to Olympic fishing.

More in the coming years

Pele Blytmann, chairman of the fishing and trapping organization KNAPK, says that there is great interest in fishing under IOC.

After the introduction of the Fisheries Act, young people who have started as fishermen, as well as fishermen in the area at the southernmost border of management area 47, which now includes the Kangaatsiaq area, have not yet transitioned to the IOK scheme, says Pele Blytmann.

– Those who joined the IOK in connection with the entry into force of the Fisheries Act were primarily those who had been active in the fishing industry for a long time.

– There is interest in the IOK, but many want to see how fishing for it goes, so that we can expect more fishermen in the coming years, says Pele Blytmann.

Pele Blytmann was chairman of the fishing and hunting association IAPP in Ilulissat until he became chairman of KNAPK last autumn. IAPP has repeatedly argued that the IOK should include dinghy fishermen before the new Fisheries Act comes into force in 2025.