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Greenland and Nunavut Join Forces to Boost Fisheries

GREENLAND
Monday, August 04, 2025, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

New committee will promote cooperation and sustainable development in the Davis Strait and Baffin Bay, with a focus on conservation and Inuit interests

The governments of Nunavut and Greenland have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development of their respective fisheries. The agreement, announced on Thursday and supported by the Inuit organizations Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA), seeks to strengthen a relationship that dates back thousands of years.

The F/V 'Kiviuq' conducts marine research and delivers supplies to AFA’s owner communities during the summer and fishes Atlantic halibut off Newfoundland on the Grand Banks in the winter.-->

The central initiative is the creation of a new Greenland-Nunavut Fisheries Committee. This body, with representatives from both governments and the Inuit organizations, will serve as a crucial platform for dialogue, information exchange, and joint action on issues related to fishing and marine management.

From the Greenlandic perspective, the agreement is a natural extension of its foreign and security policy, which seeks greater cooperation with its Arctic neighbors. For Greenland, whose economy is highly dependent on its fishing industry (responsible for between 80% and 95% of its export revenues), collaboration is fundamental for the sustainable management of shared species like Greenland halibut, which inhabits the waters of the Davis Strait and Baffin Bay.

According to a press release, this collaboration will help both regions achieve their shared goal of sustainably growing the fishing industry in a way that reflects the values of the Inuit peoples in both areas. The signing of this agreement underscores the importance of a unified voice for Arctic communities, allowing them to collaborate on marine resource management, scientific research, and adaptation to climate change.

While the Government of Nunavut has not yet provided specific details on the timeline for the committee's formation, the agreement marks a significant step towards a cooperative and Inuit-led approach to fisheries management and development in the region.

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