SpearfishingMap

Greenland

Americas · Northern America

Greenland (an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark) does not recognise recreational spearfishing as a permitted fishing method. Its fisheries law operates a positive-list ('may only be done with') regime: the species-specific Self-Government orders for non-commercial/recreational fishing list only hooks/rods and nets (and pots/traps for shellfish) as legal gear. Spear or harpoon (lyster/harpun) are not among the listed recreational fishing methods, so taking fish with a speargun or spear is not legally provided for. Harpoons in Greenland are a hunting tradition used for marine mammals (seals, whales) under hunting (fangst) legislation reserved for residents, not for sport fishing of fish. No source describing legal recreational spearfishing of fish in Greenland was found. A fishing licence (fisketegn) is required for tourists/visitors. Confidence is medium: the absence of spearfishing from the exhaustive permitted-gear lists is well documented, but no single provision explicitly names and bans spearfishing by tourists.

Prohibited
DatatillförlitlighetMedelhög tillförlitlighet

Senast uppdaterad april 22, 2025

Styrande regelverk

  • §Fishery Act (Landstingslov nr. 18 af 31. oktober 1996 om fiskeri) (1996)
  • §Selvstyrets bekendtgorelse nr. 4 af 30. marts 2017 om tekniske bevaringsforanstaltninger i fiskeriet (technical conservation measures in fisheries) (2017)
  • §Selvstyrets bekendtgorelse nr. 29 af 28. juli 2022 om fiskeri efter laks (salmon fishing) (2022)
  • §Executive Order on non-commercial fishing (ikke-erhvervsmaessigt fiskeri) approved by Naalakkersuisut
Licens krävs
Krävs
Harpungevär
Förbjudet
Utlänningar
Inte tillåtet

Lagen, ordagrant

Lagtexter

De exakta författnings- och regleringsbestämmelser som styr harpunfiske här, citerade som de publicerats, med en länk till varje officiell källa.

01§ 11, stk. 1Greenland · national

Permitted gear for non-commercial salmon fishing

Selvstyrets bekendtgorelse nr. 29 af 28. juli 2022 om fiskeri efter laks

DAOriginal

Ikke-erhvervsmaessigt fiskeri efter laks ma kun foretages med: 1) kroge, eller 2) med 1 stk. 2000 knuders garn.

02§ 17, stk. 6Greenland · national

Gear restriction in Kapisillit river

Selvstyrets bekendtgorelse nr. 29 af 28. juli 2022 om fiskeri efter laks

DAOriginal

Der ma kun fiskes med fiskestang med enkeltkrog i selve elven.

03§ 4, stk. 4Greenland · national

Definition of passive fishing gear (technical conservation measures)

Selvstyrets bekendtgorelse nr. 4 af 30. marts 2017 om tekniske bevaringsforanstaltninger i fiskeriet

DAOriginal

Passive redskaber: ethvert fiskeredskab, hvis anvendelse ikke kraever, at det aktivt bevaeges gennem vandet, herunder hildingsgarn, indfiltringsnet, toggegarn, synkegarn, bundgarn, langliner, tejner og faelder.

04§ 4, stk. 5Greenland · national

Definition of active fishing gear (technical conservation measures)

Selvstyrets bekendtgorelse nr. 4 af 30. marts 2017 om tekniske bevaringsforanstaltninger i fiskeriet

DAOriginal

Active redskaber: ethvert fiskeredskab, hvis anvendelse kraever, at det aktivt bevaeges gennem vandet, isaer trukne redskaber, omkredsende redskaber, trawl, snurrevod.

05§ 1Greenland · national

Scope of the technical conservation measures order

Selvstyrets bekendtgorelse nr. 4 af 30. marts 2017 om tekniske bevaringsforanstaltninger i fiskeriet

DAOriginal

Bekendtgorelsen finder anvendelse ved erhvervsmaessigt fiskeri med gronlandsk registrerede fiskefartojer, samt udenlandske fiskefartojer pa Gronlands fiskeriterritorium.

När du får dyka

Säsonger & tidsbegränsningar

Fredningstider, öppna och begränsade perioder över året. Bekräfta alltid artspecifika fredningar lokalt.

jan
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maj
jun
jul
aug
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okt
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FredningstidBegränsatÖppet
  • ÖppetAtlantic salmon (recreational) - Northwest Greenlandsep 1 – okt 31

    Recreational salmon fishing season for the Northwest region. Salmon fishing is operated as 'olympic fishing' and stops when the quota is exhausted; a recreational salmon licence is required.

  • ÖppetAtlantic salmon (recreational) - Southwest Greenlandaug 1 – sep 30

    Recreational salmon fishing season for the Southwest region; quota-limited ('olympic fishing').

  • ÖppetAtlantic salmon (recreational) - East Greenlandaug 15 – okt 15

    Recreational salmon fishing season for the East region; quota-limited ('olympic fishing').

Tillstånd att fiska

Licens

Vad du behöver för att få vara i vattnet, vad det kostar och hur du skaffar det.

Licens krävsvia Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-sufficiency (Aalisarnermut Piniarnermut Nunalerinermut Imminullu Pilersornermut Naalakkersuisoqarfik)

Visitors transfer the fee to the Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-sufficiency's bank account (Gronlandsbanken) with a prescribed reference text; the bank money-transfer receipt is the personal licence. Many tourist offices/operators can also issue licences paid at a local bank or post office. Salmon recreational licence is applied for online with MitID or via local citizen service (Sullissivik).

Skaffa din licens

Öppnar den officiella portalen · sullissivik.gl

Licens krävs
Typ
Fishing licence (fisketegn) for visitors/tourists; separate recreational salmon licence (fritidslicens til laks) for salmon
Kostnad
Visitor fishing licence: DKK 75 for 24 hours, DKK 200 for one week, DKK 500 for one month (valid till December 2025 guideline).
Giltighet
Visitor licence: 24 hours, 1 week or 1 month. Recreational salmon licence: valid 1 year (1 January - 31 December) or for a fishing period announced by the Department.
Hur du skaffar den
Visitors transfer the fee to the Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-sufficiency's bank account (Gronlandsbanken) with a prescribed reference text; the bank money-transfer receipt is the personal licence. Many tourist offices/operators can also issue licences paid at a local bank or post office. Salmon recreational licence is applied for online with MitID or via local citizen service (Sullissivik).
Myndighet
Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-sufficiency (Aalisarnermut Piniarnermut Nunalerinermut Imminullu Pilersornermut Naalakkersuisoqarfik)

Utrustning & teknik

Utrustningsregler

Vilken utrustning som är tillåten, hur den får användas och vilka villkor som gäller.

HarpungevärFörbjudet

Restriktioner

  • Recreational/non-commercial fishing is restricted to hooks/rods and nets (and pots/traps for shellfish); spear and harpoon (lyster/harpun) are not listed as permitted fishing gear.
  • Non-commercial salmon fishing may only be done with hooks or one 2000-knot net (§ 11, salmon order).
  • In Kapisillit river only a single-hook fishing rod is allowed.
  • Net length limits apply (e.g. Arctic char nets max 30 m); shellfish max ~3 pots per angler; wolffish (stenbider) max 2 nets, min 260 mm mesh.
  • All gear must be marked with the owner's name in waterproof material.

Harpoons in Greenland are traditionally used for hunting marine mammals (seals, whales) under hunting legislation reserved for residents, not for recreational fishing of fish. No legal provision authorises taking fish with a speargun or spear.

Vad du får ta

Fångstbegränsningar & skyddade arter

Dagliga kvoter, minimimått och arter som aldrig får tas.

Daglig gräns

Recreational catch is for own consumption; anglers must respect daily quotas. Salmon recreational fishing is quota-limited and operated as 'olympic fishing' (stops when the national quota is reached). No single numeric pan-species daily figure published.

Greenland sets annual total allowable catches per species under the Fishery Act. Salmon (Atlantic salmon) is tightly quota-managed under NASCO/ICES advice. Marine mammals (seals, whales) are governed by hunting law, not fishing law.

Vem som får fiska

Besökare & bofasta

Hur reglerna skiljer sig för utländska besökare och lokalt bofasta.

Utländska besökare

Inte tillåtet

Särskild licens krävs

Krav

  • Tourists/visitors must hold a paid visitor fishing licence (fisketegn) and carry the bank money-transfer receipt while fishing.
  • Recreational salmon licences are generally available only to citizens of Greenland or Denmark with permanent residence in Greenland, or foreign citizens with 2 consecutive years of residence.

Restriktioner

  • Spearfishing is not a permitted recreational fishing method for anyone, including foreigners.
  • Only hooks/rods and nets are legal recreational gear; harpoon use for marine mammals is a residents-only hunting activity, not open to tourists.

'allowed: false' refers specifically to spearfishing being unavailable to foreigners; line-and-net recreational fishing IS open to tourists with a fisketegn.

Bofasta

Free non-commercial fishing for own consumption for Greenland/Denmark citizens resident in Greenland (and foreigners with 2+ years residence); separate recreational salmon licence for salmon.

Krav

  • Permanent residence in Greenland (citizen of Greenland/Denmark, or foreigner resident 2+ consecutive years).
  • Salmon requires a recreational salmon licence (fritidslicens til laks).

Förmåner

  • May fish freely for own consumption without paying the visitor fisketegn.
  • Marine mammal harpoon hunting (seals, whales) is a traditional residents' activity under hunting legislation, distinct from fishing.

Spearfishing of fish is still not a recognised legal method for residents; permitted recreational gear remains hooks/rods and nets.

Var på kusten

Tillåtna & förbjudna zoner

Namngivna områden som är öppna för eller stängda för harpunfiske. Se hela bilden på den interaktiva kartan.

Förbjudna områden

  • Kapisillit riverriver fishing restriction zone

    In the Kapisillit river (home to Greenland's only native salmon spawning population) fishing is restricted to a single-hook fishing rod only; nets and other gear are not permitted, which inherently excludes spear/harpoon methods.

Förhållanden på vattnet

Liveförhållanden

Ögonblicksbild i realtid av marina förhållanden och väder nära en kustreferenspunkt i Greenland, från Open-Meteo. Förhållandena varierar längs kusten — betrakta som vägledande.

Marina förhållanden & väder i realtid nära Kapisillit river.

Förhållanden

Vem du ska fråga

Myndigheter

De officiella organ som ansvarar för fiske och licensiering.

  • Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-sufficiency (Aalisarnermut Piniarnermut Nunalerinermut Imminullu Pilersornermut Naalakkersuisoqarfik)

    fisheries ministry

    nanoq.glPostboks 269, 3900 Nuuk; Tlf. (+299) 34 50 00; apn@nanoq.gl
  • Greenland Fisheries and Hunting Control Authority (GFJK)

    fisheries control authority

    gfjk.glAqqusinersuaq 48 A, 3900 Nuuk; Tlf. (+299) 34 50 00; gfjk@nanoq.gl

Var detta kommer från

Källor

Varje påstående på denna sida går att spåra tillbaka till en av dessa referenser.

  1. [01]

    Selvstyrets bekendtgorelse nr. 29 af 28. juli 2022 om fiskeri efter laks (salmon fishing order)

    Officiell
    nalunaarutit.glHämtad jun 15
  2. [02]

    Selvstyrets bekendtgorelse nr. 4 af 30. marts 2017 om tekniske bevaringsforanstaltninger i fiskeriet (technical conservation measures)

    Officiell
    nalunaarutit.glHämtad jun 15
  3. [03]

    Fritidsfiskeri (recreational fishing) - Sullissivik (official citizen portal)

    Officiell
    sullissivik.glHämtad jun 15
  4. [04]

    Ansog om fritidslicens til laks (apply for recreational salmon licence) - Sullissivik

    Officiell
    sullissivik.glHämtad jun 15
  5. [05]

    To visitors who wish to go fishing in Greenland - fishing licence guideline 2025 (Ministry of Fisheries)

    Officiell
    sullissivik.glHämtad jun 15
  6. [06]

    Greenland Fisheries and Hunting Control Authority (GFJK)

    Officiell
    gfjk.glHämtad jun 15
  7. [07]

    Fishery Act (No. 18 of 1996) - ECOLEX legislation record

    Officiell
    ecolex.orgHämtad jun 15
  8. [08]

    Fishing in Greenland - An Arctic angling guide (Raw Arctic)

    Sekundär
    rawarctic.comHämtad jun 15

Forskaranteckningar

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark with its own fisheries legislation administered by the Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-sufficiency and enforced by GFJK. Recreational ('fritidsfiskeri' / 'ikke-erhvervsmaessigt fiskeri') fishing is governed by a positive-list of permitted gear consisting of hooks/rods and nets (plus pots/traps for shellfish). Spear and harpoon (lyster/harpun) are absent from every permitted-gear list reviewed, and the salmon order (§ 11) states recreational salmon fishing 'ma kun foretages med' (may ONLY be done with) hooks or one net - so spearfishing for fish is not legally provided for; legal_status set to 'no'. Important nuance: harpoons ARE central to Greenlandic culture but for HUNTING marine mammals (seals, whales) under hunting/fangst law reserved for residents, NOT for sport spearfishing of fish - these two regimes should not be conflated. Tourists CAN line/net fish with a paid visitor licence (fisketegn). data_confidence is 'medium' because the prohibition of spearfishing is inferred from the exhaustive permitted-gear lists rather than a single explicit ban naming spearguns; the cold Arctic water and absence of any dive-spearfishing culture or operators further support that recreational spearfishing of fish does not occur here. Cost figures are from the official 2025 licence guideline. No spearfishing-specific marine protected zones were identifiable.

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