- Oceans North Kalaallit Nunaat (ONKN) supports the work to adopt a new Fisheries Act – We see a great need to modernize the Fisheries Act. At the same time, it has the potential to significantly change the Greenlandic society.
- However, ONKN believes that the proposed Fisheries Act has several shortcomings which could have profound consequences for the Greenlandic society. We have pointed these out in our consultation response, but they were rejected with arguments suggesting that the concerns were not taken seriously.
- ONKN encourages Inatsisartut to reconsider the concerns that ONKN and other consultation parties have expressed and get off to a good start with a well-considered Fisheries Act. Now is the chance to make the Fisheries Act sustainable, both biologically, socially, economically, and culturally.
Adapt the Fisheries Act – An ITQ system that protects local communities
- Adapt the Fisheries Act – An ITQ system that protects local communities
- However, ONKN believes that the proposed Fisheries Act lacks safeguards that can counteract the depopulation of local communities. Experience from abroad shows that the introduction of Individually Transferable Quotas (ITQ) often results in the depopulation of small local communities. Especially the dinghy fisher, who combines small-scale fishing with hunting, is in risk of being squeezed out by the introduction of ITQ. This threatens both the way of life and local economies. Small-scale fisheries can be both sustainable and eco-friendly, but the purely economic approach favors increasingly larger vessels.
- ONKN encourages Inatsisartut to adapt the ITQ system with safeguards that preserve sustainable small-scale fisheries.
Adapt the Fisheries Act – Modern management principles in times of crisis
- ONKN supports that biological sustainability is given high weight in the proposed Fisheries Act - We are in favor of complying with scientific advice when setting quotas as we believe that healthy fish stocks provide optimal fisheries.
- However, ONKN believes that the proposed Fisheries Act lacks several management principles that naturally belong in a modern Fisheries Act in 2024: The precautionary principle, Ecosystem-based approach to management, and Handling of climate change. These principles are crucial for the long-term sustainability of fish stocks during the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, and the pollution crisis.
- ONKN encourages Inatsisartut to adopt a modern Fisheries Act with management principles that reflect the changed reality of crises as well as Greenland's obligations to the international community.
Read the consultation response of Oceans North Kalaallit Nunaat in full HERE
Please note that the background images on the posters are generated using an AI tool, i.e. by artificial intelligence. Therefore, they do not represent real places.
Please note that the background images on the posters are generated using an AI tool, i.e. by artificial intelligence. Therefore, they do not represent real places.
