- The processing of fishing licenses will be improved

Member of Inatsisartut's Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture Committee, Jens Napãtôᴋ' from Naleraq, has asked a Section 37 question to Naalakkersuisut about the issuance of licenses for coastal fishing.

He believes that the processing of some applications for fishing licenses takes too long, and that administrative improvements are therefore needed.

Ulrik Inuusuttoq, a dinghy fisherman in Attu, has not yet received his new fishing license and says that he cannot therefore make money from fishing.

In a response to the Inatsisartut member, Naalakkersuisoq for Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-Sustainability, Peter Borg from Demokraatit, writes that the Department of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-Sustainability has recently been hit by illness, which may have affected the processing of applications.

However, he also emphasizes that efforts are being made to improve the processing of applications.

The task is divided into two

According to Naalakkersuisoq Peter Borg, the issuance of licenses for coastal fishing will be divided between the municipalities and the Department of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-Sustainability.

– All fishermen who want a license similar to the one they had last year can contact the municipal office and get the license immediately. The ministry has not found any explanation for why the processing time is longer in some municipalities, he says.

Applications from new players – that is, those who have not previously had a fishing license – as well as applications from owners of vessels over six meters are processed by the Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture, Naalakkersuisoq informs for fisheries.

Affected by illness

Jens Napãtôᴋ' also wants to know why the processing of fishing licenses takes longer in some places. Naalakkersuisoq Peter Borg explains that the ministry has recently been hit by an epidemic, which may be the reason for the delays.

– But that would not have much effect, since the applications are processed according to when they were submitted.

– Since not all applications are processed as license applications, we cannot state exactly how many are waiting to be processed, Naalakkersuisoq for fisheries responds.

However, he emphasizes that all inquiries are processed by the department.

Processed as quickly as possible

Jens Napãtôᴋ' also wanted to know how long it takes to process applications for fishing licenses in East and West Greenland.

– If all information and documentation is sent immediately, applications are usually processed within three to four days. However, when the work is particularly demanding, it can take up to ten days. This is within the legislative framework for case processing.

The response shows that applications are processed equally, regardless of which region they come from.

There may be various reasons

Borg states that delays in processing certain applications for fishing licenses may be due to the vessel not being registered, lacking a CVR number or not having submitted the necessary information.

– The department always works actively to process all inquiries as quickly as possible.

– However, it is also important to emphasize that fishermen must ensure that all information and documents are ready during the application period and that they submit their application as soon as possible before fishing begins, says Naalakkersuisoq.

Working on improvements

Peter Borg emphasizes that the Department of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Utilities continues to work on improving the processing of fishing licenses.

– A major IT project is planned for 2026, which will result in more fishermen being issued licenses immediately. It is hoped that these changes will come into effect before fishermen apply for a license in 2027, says Naalakkersuisoq Peter Borg.

In mid-December last year, fishermen were reminded that they had to apply for a fishing license before 1 January 2026.

Still unable to fish

Dinghy fisherman Ulrik Inuusuttoq from Attu has so far been unable to make money from cod fishing because his application for a license has not yet been processed.

– I have been told that my CVR number is not correctly registered, so I have not yet received my license. I have already fished for cod with a net and caught some fish, but I still cannot sell them.

– After the new Fisheries Act, it has become more complicated for many to obtain a fishing license. I therefore believe that the administrative service should be better, he says.

Last year, Ulrik Inuusuttoq was the largest supplier of cod to Royal Greenland's fish factory in Attu.

Jens Napãtôᴋ' is strongly critical of the slow processing of applications for fishing licenses and demands that the matter be resolved quickly.