Fisheries and Catch
Fishing is Greenland's single most important trade. Fishing for prawns, Greenlandic halibut, Atlantic cod and some other species is regulated by quota and license regulations decided by the government. Fishing comes in two breeds, coastal - and offshore fishing. Coastal fishing supplies land-based seafood buyers, while the offshore fishing fleet primarily consists of factory vessels with on-board production. The land-based fishing industry is dominated by two companies, the government-owned Royal Greenland, and the private owned Polar Seafood. Royal Greenland is Greenland’s largest company. In the last couple of years, a number of private seafood enterprises have also appeared on the scene. Huntsmanship has been a way of life in Greenland for generations. Even today, hunting provides an important supplement to household economy. Hunting is regulated by means of seasons and permissions. A general hunting license is mandatory for anyone, who wants to hunt. The general license comes in two breeds, professional and recreational. In addition, a specific license is needed when hunting quota – limited species. The quota system regulates the number of animals available for hunting.
