Too old to fish? 33-year-old rejected due to age

He is healthy, motivated and ready to work. But the age limit of 29 years blocks Kunuuti Kleemann's access to halibut fishing. He is 33 years old.

- I feel powerless, and it is frustrating, Kunuuti Kleemann tells AG.

The age requirement of 18-29 years for licenses for coastal halibut fishing was originally introduced to control how many fishermen have access to the quotas and at the same time give young people - according to naalakkersoq - a better opportunity to enter the profession, because the age distribution in the dinghy fishing was unbalanced.

- It has previously been desired to both limit the influx of new fishermen into coastal halibut fishing and prioritize young fishermen based on the age distribution, especially in coastal dinghy fishing, naalakkersuisoq for fisheries, hunting, agriculture and self-sufficiency, Peter Borg, responds in a written response.

It has not been possible for AG to obtain an oral or follow-up interview with him, who has therefore responded in writing.

Refusal of refusal

Kunuuti Kleemann lives in Nuuk with his girlfriend and their two children. He has a high school education, has attended business school and is a concrete worker. Last summer he decided to try fishing.

Although he has an educational background from the academic system and is a concrete worker, after ten years in the profession he found that the work no longer gave him the motivation he was looking for.

That is why he chose to try fishing, which he experiences as more meaningful and closer to the way of life he wants. A life with a greater connection to nature and the sea.

- Now! It gives joy. Being alone, working alone, and it is me who decides. Being close to nature, that is just the thing for me, he says.

Initially, it was not the plan that he would fish for halibut when he applied for a commercial license. After a few months of cod fishing, however, the desire arose as he gained more knowledge of the conditions in the sea and the fishing seasons.

- For example, cod spawn during this period and are located further into the fjords. Therefore, it would be a great advantage to be able to fish for halibut right now, says Kunuuti Kleemann.

He tells AG that he has applied for a halibut fishing license three times, but has been refused each time.

- I consider myself a patient man, but it requires a lot of energy. I know that I can and want to work, but I don't have the opportunity to. It feels like it is beyond my rights, he says.

Quota adjustment

As can be read further above, the Minister of Fisheries of Greenland, Peter Borg, explains that the age requirement was introduced to ensure a controlled influx of new fishermen and to adapt the capacity to the available quotas. At the same time, it was desired to prioritize young fishermen, as the age distribution in coastal dinghy fishing was unbalanced.

- The age requirement in the Greenland halibut fishery was necessary to ensure that there was a sufficient number of fish per operator. This means that the capacity matches the available quotas and at the same time ensures that new labor was added to the fishery, says Peter Borg.

To the question whether the Self-Government has made a legal assessment of whether the age restriction can be considered indirect discrimination, he replies:

- There is no question of illegal age discrimination that is contrary to the general principles of equality by introducing restrictions and setting requirements for access to fishing - not even by introducing an age requirement, the answer states.

According to naalakkersuisoq, the requirement is justified in the general interest of society, and the Ombudsman for Inatsisartut has previously assessed the case without finding any cause for criticism.

The Ministry also emphasizes that it is common to set requirements for access to certain rights or opportunities - for example, the age limit for obtaining a driver's license.

For Kunuuti Kleemann, the rule is experienced as a harsh restriction. He says that at one point the pressure became so great that he considered selling the family's apartment, but chose not to do so. The thoughts arose during a period marked by frustration and the feeling of being stuck in the matter.

- I hope something will be done about it soon. It is very frustrating, because I cannot change my age, says Kunuuti Kleemann.

The Government of Greenland has sent a new executive order for consultation, in which the age requirement is proposed to be removed. The question is therefore whether fishermen like Kunuuti Kleemann will have easier access to the profession in the future.