The Davis Strait - DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi

Figure 5.2.1. Annual number of
murres and common eiders hunted
in West Greenland from
Paamiut to Sisimiut (the assessment
area) in the period 1996-
2008. Unpublished data from
Piniarneq, Greenland hunting
statistics, Department of Fisheries,
Hunting and Agriculture,
2011.
156
element of Greenlandic culture, and products such as skin, bones, antlers,
teeth, etc. are assets in clothing, jewellery and art.
A proportion of the catch presented under the commercial fisheries section
includes subsistence and recreational fisheries. Data on subsistence and recreational
fisheries in Greenland are not separated. It is however assumed
that the majority of the Greenlanders participate and benefit from subsistence
and recreational fisheries.
Many fish species are utilised on a subsistence basis, the most important are
spotted wolfish (Anarchichas minor), Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides)
redfish (Sebastes spp.), Atlantic cod (Gadus morrhua), polar cod (Boreogadus
saida), Greenland cod (Gadus ogac) and Greenland shark (Somniosus
microcephalus).
5.2.1 Bird hunting
Birds have historically played an important role as a supplement to hunting
marine mammals, caribou and to fishing. The most important hunted bird
species are thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia), common eider (Somateria mollissima)
and king eider (Somateria spectabilis), little auk (Alle alle) and black guillemot
(Cepphus grylle).
Catches have been reported annually to Piniarneq, the official Greenlandic
hunting statistics since 1993, and represent the major source of information
on bird hunting. The data are generally not quality assured, but the reported
numbers of birds are assumed to represent comparable indices of hunting
over time. Since 1996 the reported catch of all species has been greatly reduced
(Fig. 5.2.1 and 5.2.2). Within the assessment area the number of reported
common eider was reduced to from 33,000 to 11,000 from 2000 to
2002, when the hunting season was shortened by approximately two
months, and has stabilised around 11,000 birds annually.
Since 1996 the thick-billed murre has been the far most important hunted
seabird, followed by common eider. Specific hunting seasons are established
by the Department of Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture and vary between
species and region. For most species, the main hunting season in the assessment
area is from 15 October to 1 March (15 March for common eider). Daily
quotas for the most hunted species are 30 birds for commercial licences and
5 for recreational licences (Anon 2009).
Birds shot/year
160000
140000
120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
Murre
Common eider
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010