Marine Protection in Greenland:

A Political Commitment for the Incoming Naalakkersuisut

The marine ecosystems of Kalaallit Nunaat are of crucial importance for both biodiversity and the coastal communities that depend on them. The previous Naalakkersuisut joined the UN Biodiversity Agreement (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) and thereby committed to the 30 by 30 goal, which entails protecting 30% of the marine area in Kalaallit Nunaat by the end of 2030. Despite this commitment, no concrete measures have yet been initiated toward this goal. It is important for the incoming Naalakkersuisut to take responsibility for ensuring that the necessary steps are taken through legislation, the establishment of protected marine areas, and financial prioritization. This work should be carried out in close dialogue with research institutions, local communities, and relevant organizations to ensure effective and sustainable management of the marine areas in Kalaallit Nunaat.

To achieve real protection, Oceans North Kalaallit Nunaat (ONKN) recommend that the incoming Naalakkersuisut:

• Ensure that marine environment protection is included in a coalition agreement to maintain a long-term political commitment.
• Designate and implement protected marine areas in accordance with the 30 by 30 goal.
• Establish legislative frameworks and secure financial resources for marine protection initiatives.
• Ensure real protection of Pikialasorsuaq in collaboration with Inuit communities in Kalaallit Nunaat and Nunavut, Canada and allocate financial resources to the area in the national budget.
• Develop protected marine areas by using a combination of UN- and IUCN-recognized protection models as well as Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA), where Inuit traditions and sustainable use of the sea are respected.

Protected Areas and Greenlandic context

Greenland has a unique opportunity to develop a differentiated approach to marine environment protection that both respects the traditional use of the sea by Inuit communities and ensures biodiversity. While the UN and IUCN have different categories of protected areas (ranging from strictly protected reserves to areas with sustainable resource use, and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs)), Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA) is a model where Indigenous peoples lead and manage nature conservation.

In a Greenlandic context, it is important to recognize that Greenland is a self-governing country where the majority of the population is Indigenous Peoples. This means that the IPCA model cannot be implemented in the same way as in Canada, where Indigenous peoples form a minority within a nation-state. Instead, Greenland can draw on a combination of IUCN categories and IPCA principles to ensure Indigenous and local knowledge and management within a national framework and thus ensure a strong anchoring in the local communities of northwest Greenland.

Pikialasorsuaq is one of the Arctic’s most valuable marine areas and is of great importance for biodiversity and Inuit communities on both sides of Baffin Bay. The area should be managed as a single cohesive unit, where Kalaallit Nunaat and Canada collaborate on protection efforts. ONKN therefore calls for the establishment of formal management across the borders between Kalaallit Nunaat and Canada.

Deep-Sea Mining & marine mining

ONKN also emphasizes the importance of a clear political stance on deep-sea mining. Extracting minerals from the seabed can have severe consequences for marine ecosystems, particularly in vulnerable Arctic areas. Therefore, we recommend that Naalakkersuisut:

• Implement a moratorium on deep-sea mining until sufficient scientific documentation exists on the ecological consequences.
• Ensure a precautionary approach in accordance with international standards for marine protection.
• Prioritize research and mapping of ecosystems in deep-sea areas before making decisions about potential resource exploitation.

In relation to mining on the continental shelf (less than 200 m water depth), permits should be able to be withdrawn if initial environmental studies demonstrate vulnerable ecological, biodiversity and/or societal values.

Oceans North Kalaallit Nunaat has gathered perspectives and opinions on marine protection through listening tours in Greenland. Experiences from South Greenland and Uummannaq show that sustainable fishing, monitoring, and securing marine protected areas are key issues for the population. This highlights the need for an inclusive approach, where Indigenous and local knowledge and interests are actively incorporated into decision-making processes.

We urge Naalakkersuisut to take responsibility and act now. This is a unique opportunity to secure a sustainable future for Greenland’s marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. We look forward to following Naalakkersuisut’s initiatives in this area and are happy to contribute with knowledge and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Jenseeraq Poulsen

Direktør, ONKN

e-mail: jenseeraq@oceansnorth.gl

Mobil: 483467