400-Year-Old Sharks Clash with Modern Greenland Fishery

Greenland's fishing communities, particularly in Ilulissat, are experiencing significant conflict with Greenland sharks. These ancient, slow-moving sharks, some living over 400 years, frequently damage fishing gear, leading to substantial financial losses for fishers like Henrik Jensen, who reports losing thousands of hooks and considerable revenue daily. This escalating issue led the Avannaata municipality earlier this year to propose a controversial cull of 1,000 sharks, with a bounty of 300 krone offered for each shark heart.

This proposal, however, was halted due to legal questions. Conservation groups, such as Oceans North Kalaallit Nunaat (ONKN), argue that culling is not a viable solution, citing the sharks' extensive migratory patterns and their slow sexual maturity at around 150 years. They contend that any sharks removed would simply be replaced by others from different regions. Marine conservationists also express grave concern, highlighting that the species is biologically sensitive to overfishing and is still recovering from historical targeted fishing.

Fishers also point to other significant pressures affecting their livelihoods. The proliferation of discarded "ghost lines" and the impact of offshore trawlers on fish stocks and size are major concerns. These factors, combined with narrow profit margins in the fishing industry, which contributes approximately 25% of Greenland's GDP, exacerbate the frustration with sharks. Experts suggest solutions like improved bycatch reporting, gear-loss compensation schemes, and trials of acoustic shark deterrents could offer more sustainable resolutions than culls.