Shrimp Quota Cuts Threaten Jobs in Aasiaat
In a troubling trend for the fishing industry, the shrimp quota has plummeted by 35 percent over the past few years, shrinking from 115,000 tonnes in 2022 to a mere 75,000 tonnes this year. This dramatic decline not only raises questions about the sustainability of shrimp populations but also jeopardizes the future of land-based shrimp factories, putting many jobs on the line.
Polar Seafood, the largest privately-owned fishing company in Greenland, has sounded the alarm regarding the viability of its shrimp factory in Aasiaat. The reduced quotas they have received make the factory’s continued operation uncertain—a worrying development for the local workforce.
In Aasiaat, the stakes are high. The potential loss of 115 jobs could have a ripple effect on the community, resulting in significant declines in local tax revenue and overall economic hardship.
Local politician Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen, from the Atassut party, has voiced concerns and formally queried the Naalakkersuisut (the Government of Greenland) about what measures are being considered to maintain employment and business activity in the region given the dwindling raw material base.
However, the response from Peter Borg, Naalakkersuisut’s Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture, and the Environment, falls short of reassurance. Instead of offering a clear plan, he has shifted responsibility back to the two largest fishing companies in the country.
Borg acknowledged that all four shrimp factories in Greenland are facing the repercussions of declining shrimp stocks and warned that competition among these facilities for the diminishing resource will likely intensify in 2026.
He confirmed ongoing discussions with Polar Seafood regarding their Aasiaat factory and has urged both Polar Seafood and Royal Greenland to collaborate on strategies to preserve employment at their land-based operations. “This dialogue will continue,” Borg concluded, though the path forward remains unclear for those anxiously watching the future of the shrimp industry in Aasiaat.