The higher price for stonefish roe has been well received

The purchase price of rockfish roe is significantly higher this year than in previous years, which pleases fishermen.

At Royal Greenland A/S’ factories on the coast, rockfish roe costs 40 kroner plus a bonus of one kroner.

In addition, purchasing roe costs 42 kroner plus a bonus of one kroner due to competition between five factories in Nuuk. The start date for the rockfish fishery varies from area to area and the fishery takes place for 60 days.

Competition increases prices

In Greenland’s largest city, Nuuk, there are four fish producers and purchasing companies that purchase rockfish roe. These are Royal Greenland A/S, Polar Raajat A/S, Unik Seafood Greenland A/S and the new company Arctic Roe ApS. Here, rockfish roe is purchased for 43 kroner per kilo. At the five fish factories, Arctic Cod ApS does not purchase rockfish roe, but various fish.

Pele Blytmann, chairman of the fishermen and hunters' organization KNAPK, believes that the increased price of rockfish roe this year is due, among other things, to the tougher competition.

At the end of March, Arctic Roe ApS and KNAPK signed an agreement that the minimum price for rockfish roe should be 35 kroner. Pele Blytmann believes that this agreement has caused other companies to raise prices for rockfish roe.

Since then, KNAPK and Royal Greenland have held two meetings about the price of rockfish roe.

- The meeting with Royal Greenland was constructive and understanding, and we agreed on a purchase price of 43 kroner in Nuuk and 41 kroner on the coast.

- There is no doubt that the agreement between Arctic Rope and KNAPK on a minimum price for stonefish roe has led other producers to raise prices, he says.

Pele Blytmann describes the outcome of the negotiations on this year's purchase price for stonefish roe as very positive.

More stonefish fishermen

The stonefish season in Nuuk started on April 10, and fisherman and trapper Aslak W. Jensen is now catching stonefish, and he is satisfied with the purchase price.

- The higher prices for stonefish roe have clearly led more dinghy fishermen to fish for stonefish.

And this year the fishermen have been very happy with the higher prices, he says.

Iceland does not have MSC certification for rockfish roe, and Denmark has closed the fishing for rockfish this year, which, among other things, provides grounds for raising prices for Greenland rockfish this year, he believes.

- MSC certification of rockfish roe in Greenland means higher prices, and that is to the benefit of us all, says Aslak W. Jensen.

The prices of cod are also higher this year. In Nuuk, the purchase price for cod is between 20 kroner and 30 kroner per kilo, depending on which place you choose to buy it from. Aslak W. Jensen therefore believes that the conditions for dinghy fishermen are generally better than before.

The opportunity is being exploited

According to Søren Rosing, chairman of the fishing and hunting association in Qeqertarsuatsiaat, the stonefish fishery has not really started yet due to the cold weather. However, he expects a good start in the near future.

- The price of stonefish roe is perhaps higher than ever before, and therefore I expect that all 20 members of our club will fish, he says.

In Qeqertarsuatsiaat, stonefish roe and various fish species are purchased for Royal Greenland.

There is no purchase facility in Kapisillit. Yet it is primarily cod that is caught by most dinghy fishermen in the settlement, and the catch is purchased in Nuuk. To make the most of this year's high prices for stonefish roe, more dinghy fishermen from Kapisillit are expected to sail to the Nuuk area to catch stonefish, says the chairman of the Kapisillit Fishermen's and Hunters' Association, Angutimmarik Hansen.

Facts:

Fishing for stonefish is limited to coastal waters.

Fishing for rockfish is organized into seven management areas:

• Administrative area 510-K 1A (Qasigiannguit, Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq, Uummannaq and Upernavik) starting on 1 April

• Management area 521-K 1Ba (Aasiaat), fishing starts on 15 April

• Management area 522-K 1Bb (Sisimiut), fishing starts on 5 April

• Management area 530-K 1C (Maniitsoq), fishing starts on 15 April

• Management area 540-K 1D (Nuuk), fishing starts on 10 April

• Management area 550-K 1E (Paamiut), fishing start 1. April

• Management area 560-K 1F (South Greenland), fishing start on April 1

In a quota year, you can be granted licenses for two management areas. One area is your own home, and the other area is the management area that borders your home.

Source: Sullissivik.gl.