Concerns Spark Change in Fishing Quota Tender in Aasiaat
A small, yet significant, group of local stakeholders has raised alarms regarding community values, the potential for foreign influence in fishing, and the absence of a comprehensive job preservation strategy in Aasiaat. These pressing issues have led the Naalakkersuisut to withdraw its recent proposal for ocean-going quotas for halibut and cod.
In an official press release, the Department of Fisheries, Catching, Agriculture, and Self-Sufficiency outlined the decision, highlighting the need for a fresh approach. In response to these challenges, the department has crafted two new tenders aimed at diversifying ownership and safeguarding employment opportunities in Aasiaat.
“Our priority is to secure the maximum possible number of man-years in Aasiaat over the next decade,” stated the department concerning the upcoming tenders.
A Shift Towards Local Ownership
The adoption of the new Fisheries Act in 2024 marked a pivotal shift, emphasizing the importance of distributing fishing rights among a broader range of stakeholders. However, the current government acknowledges that its previous attempt to issue new quotas was not successful in achieving this goal.
“The majority of applicants fell short of the tender’s objective to ensure a more extensive distribution of ownership,” the department noted. “Many of the companies that applied had only a handful of owners, leading to concerns about the consolidation of resources within a very small elite.”
Moreover, many applicants expressed intentions to leverage foreign capital. Such a move could inadvertently invite foreign influence into local fisheries, contradicting the fundamental principles of the Fisheries Act. “Utilizing foreign capacity can counteract our community-oriented goals,” the department added.
As a result, the new tenders will require that all bidding companies be fully owned by Greenlandic entities, and no foreign vessels will be allowed to operate within these quotas.
Protecting Aasiaat’s Factory and Workforce
Polar Seafood has previously cautioned that ongoing reductions in shrimp quotas may jeopardize the future of its factory in Aasiaat. In discussions with Sermitsiaq, the company expressed a desire for a more substantial allocation of halibut quotas to keep the facility operational.
It appears that the government is receptive to these concerns. The new tenders not only prioritize job security in Aasiaat but also stipulate that at least 25 percent of the quota must be obtained locally.
“Evaluation of applications will heavily weigh the number of employees based in Aasiaat and the applicants’ strategies for maintaining this workforce. The allocation of quotas will hinge on continued job retention in the region,” the department explained.
In this round of tenders, quotas totaling 2,468.5 tonnes of halibut in West Greenland and 5,000 tonnes of cod in East Greenland are on offer. The second tender comprises quotas of 2,468.5 tonnes of halibut, 1,950 tonnes of cod, and 166.6 tonnes of halibut in West Greenland, specifically targeting new entrants into the industry.
Bids for these quotas must be submitted by July 24 at the latest, as the administration seeks to navigate complex local dynamics and secure the future of fishing in Aasiaat.