Greenland Scraps Shark Bounty

Greenland scrapped a plan to pay fishers 300 Danish kroner per Greenland shark heart targeting 1,000 sharks.

Fishers Report Losses

Fishers lost 6,000 hooks this year and sometimes 30,000 Danish kroner daily due to shark encounters.

“This year I've lost around 6,000 hooks in total. Sometimes we lose 30,000 Danish krone a day.”

Municipality's Plan Abandoned

Greenland's government determined the municipality lacked legal authority to carry out the bounty program.

“The municipality later abandoned the plan after Greenland's government determined it lacked a legal basis to establish the bounty.”

Conservationists Warn

Scientists warn a large-scale shark cull risks harming Greenland sharks that take 150 years to reach maturity.

“Greenland sharks are believed to reach sexual maturity at roughly 150 years old.”

Fishers Seek Relief

Fishers continue to press for compensation for damaged gear and lost catches from shark encounters.

“Fishers continue to argue that shark encounters impose significant costs on small fishing operations.”

Future Solutions Discussed

Proposals include compensation for gear damage, removal of ghost fishing lines, and acoustic shark deterrent technology trials.

“Improved bycatch reporting and bycatch-friendly gear regulations could be part of future efforts.”