Haste leads to Hellefian quota chaos

In December, Naalakkersuisut introduced annual quotas in administrative area 47: Disko Bay, Uummannaq and Upernavik, but here – two months later – quarterly quotas are now being introduced instead.

Naalakkersuisoq for fishing and catching Aqqaluaq B. Egede (IA) believes that a compromise has now landed that all parties can be pleased about.

Part of the reason for my decision is that several fishermen and organisations have responded to the new rules. Therefore, we consider this solution to be a compromise, says Aqqaluaq B. Egede to KNR.

Broad criticism for zig-zag course

Knr has spoken to fishermen, factories and a trade union that was not happy with the new quota system. The opposition party Siumut has also criticised Naalakkersuisut for administrative mess and zig-zag course.

In a press release, Karl Tobiassen, a member of Inatsisartut for Siumut, writes:

It is in no way acceptable that, for such a short period of time, there should again be radical changes without having heard the profession at all, thus neglecting their perfectly justified voice, writes Karl Tobiassen.

Naalakkersuisoq responds to criticism

Naalakkersuisoq for Fisheries and Catch admits that the process could have been better and that more time should probably have been spent on finding the right replacement for the monthly quotas.

Perhaps we could have come up with a better longer-term solution if we had had better time.

But what I could see when I became naalakkersuisoq was that we had to constantly make transfers of quotas so that fishing did not stop. Therefore, the change was necessary, says Aqqaluaq B. Egede.

Naalakkersuisoq also says that a great deal of time was spent dealing with additional quotas for coastal dinghy fishermen in the administration, and therefore it was crucial that a new model was found both for the sake of fishermen but also for society.

No guarantee that no changes will happen again

Aqqaluaq B. Egede hopes that the new quota allocation will last, but he will not guarantee that this will be the last time that changes will come again.

I believe that we must constantly seek flexible solutions instead of making any changes at all. Therefore, I cannot say ‘Now we are not making any more changes’, says Aqqaluaq B. Egede.

A press release on Naalakkersuisut’s website states that the new quota rules have already entered into force.

The original article can be found on the KNR news website