The utilization requirement of 75 percent is criticised

The new fisheries law , which entered into force on 1 January 2025 and formed the basis for a new structure for the fishing industry in Greenland, fills one year at the turn of the year.

The Fisheries Act has many advantages, but there is a need individual and important adjustments, the two fishermen's and trappers' organizations believe, Greenland's Fishermen's and Trappers' Organisation, KNAPK, and the coastal fishermen's and prisoners' organization, SQAPK.

The new fisheries law , which entered into force on 1 January 2025 and formed the basis for a new structure for the fishing industry in Greenland, fills one year at the turn of the year.

The Fisheries Act has many advantages, but there is a need individual and important adjustments, the two fishermen's and trappers' organizations believe, Greenland's Fishermen's and Trappers' Organisation, KNAPK, and the coastal fishermen's and prisoners' organization, SQAPK.

Need for changes

According to Naalakkersuisut, the fishing resources must be exploited best possible every year, which is why new requirements were introduced in the Fisheries Act on landing obligation of 75 percent of the annual quota quantities for fishermen who the fishermen with Individually Transferable Quotas (IOK).

This means that the fisherman must use a minimum of 75 each year percent of its annual quota volume. If you fail to utilize 75 percent of your quota quantity three years in a row, according to the Fisheries Act, you must adjust your quota share, and if this does not happen, Naalakkersuisut will take the quota share, Mon cannot use back and offer to someone who needs it.

The consultancy service KONFIFA has previously agreed Sermitsiaq, that this provision in the Fisheries Act has caused confusion among them fishermen who have switched to the IOK scheme.

And if the law is not adapted, it can get catastrophic consequences for some fishermen, say the fishermen's organisations.

Too short a period of time

The chairman of KNAPK, Pele Blytmann, says that fishing and the prisoners' associations, not least KNAPK, have spent a long time making sure that the various requirements for the domestic halibut fishery have become fulfilled since the law came into force.

- We have had to spend a lot of time helping fishermen in the outer districts who cannot use MitID and who do not understand Danish or who are dyslexic so that they can comply the requirements. The time period was very short, and people have not paid attention to it these problems.

- The year is about to end, and there are still many ongoing administrative tasks the kind underway, which is due to the short deadline to fulfill the many requirements, he says.

A potential problem

KNAPK fears that the utilization obligation to fish 75 percentage of the annual quota quantities for fishermen who have switched to The IOK system in administrative area 47 can create serious problems.

- This year is there are plenty of cod in many places along the coast, and procurement prices are high, which means that many fishermen fishing for halibut under the IOC now instead fishing for cod.

- That means that many cannot fulfill their obligation to fish 75 percent of the halibut quota and they stand to lose parts of the quota, which is unacceptable, says Pele Blytmann.

Since fishermen adapt fishing in relation to which fish species that are available, the KNAPK chairman believes that the 75 percent utilization obligation should be adjusted in relation to the actual conditions.

The opposite is the case

SQAPK chairman Anthon Lindenhann corrects just like KNAPK, criticism of this controversial point in the Fisheries Act.

- We have otherwise, the request for changes in this very point in the Fisheries Act will be made in vain, which of course is regrettable.

- The Fisheries Act is generally a success, but some of its provisions, such as the utilization obligation of 75 percent of the quota should and must be adapted to the fishermen conditions, he says.

The purpose of the introduction of the IOK system for dinghy fishermen was, among other things, to create a safer and more stable fishery, but according to Anthon Lindenhann, the opposite is now a reality, as the fishermen have to make an effort themselves to fish up the quota, rather than save it for later use, which according to him is not appropriate.