Greenland’s Fisheries Minister Wants Greenlandic Officers

Yesterday, Greenlands Minister for Fisheries and Catch Karl-Kristian Kruse announced a whitepaper suggesting that at least 90 percent of the officers on Greenlandic fishing vessels longer than 24 meters must be Greenlandic.

Fisheries Naalakkersuisoq Kruse wants to force ship owners operating fishing vessels in Greenlandic waters to use Greenlanders in officer positions on fishing vessels longer than 24 meters. While Greenlanders today constitute about 60 percent of this group, Kruse wants that number to increase to at least 90 percent.

Officer positions include skippers, first officers, chefs and a few other key positions on board.

Naalakkersuisoq Karl Kristian Kruse announced the suggested change in the staffing regulations at a press conference yesterday, according to the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq. Kruse also suggests requiring that officers must demonstrate at least two years’ residency on and tax liability to Greenland. There will be a two-year introduction period before the new regulations come into effect.

The Association of Fishers and Hunter in Greenland (KNAPK) says the demands may be hard to meet, even after the two years’ introduction period.

The suggested changes will soon be subject to a hearing.