Greenland’s income is primarily fishing-based, but should the islanders consider mining more minerals? CGTN’s Iolo ap Dafydd reports from Greenland.
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NewsTranscript
00:00This week is potentially one of the most consequential in this island's history,
00:04but in this fish processing plant in Nuuk, it's business as usual.
00:09We have 38 factories, large factories in all the larger cities
00:16and a lot of small factories in the small settlements.
00:20We produce fish and cut and help with here in Nuuk.
00:24We produce around 2,000 tons a year.
00:27We are a medium-sized factory compared to other factories we have here in Greenland.
00:33Greenland has fisheries agreements with the Faroe Islands, Norway and Iceland
00:37and a general agreement with the European Union.
00:40It's the backbone of the local economy here, generating a third of Greenland's annual turnover.
00:46In a sector dominated by large private and publicly owned companies,
00:50there's a small army of self-employed fishermen like Lars.
00:54He's one of 4,000 working in the industry.
00:58Fishing can't be fully sustained today because some companies' operating costs,
01:02like Royal Greenland, are so high.
01:04But fish prices aren't increasing for us because the management is so expensive.
01:08There's a focus on restructuring to make sure that all fishing operations stay within Greenland.
01:14At 69 years of age, he's partly retired.
01:17But like many other older fishermen, he says he still needs to work a few days each week.
01:22Cod and halibut are the prized catch.
01:25Fishing is a well-established industry here, but many local politicians say
01:29in order to grow the economy and to survive as an independent state sometime in the future,
01:35Greenland should develop new industries to create more work and create more wealth.
01:41That's why mining minerals excites many investors and companies internationally.
01:48This gold mine in the south of Greenland is one of only a handful that are currently operational.
01:54It takes time, money, and infrastructure,
01:57which is why several political parties are calling for a vote on independence from Denmark
02:02to allow Greenland to capitalize on mining copper, graphite, and zinc.
02:07The minister in charge of natural resources decides on permits and licensing.
02:12She's worried about U.S. interest in Greenland's minerals,
02:15and if large-scale mining does happen, the impact on communities and the environment.
02:21We cannot develop in any way without outside workforce coming into Greenland.
02:26How do we utilize that foreign workforce best? Where do we apply it?
02:32We have the mineral sector where it's usual to fly in, fly out.
02:35It's the same with the fisheries. It's fly in, fly out.
02:38So I think we're also trying to be mindful of what kind of sectors would be suitable
02:43with a country with a small workforce and where we are very reliant on foreign workers.
02:48When bad weather blows in, only the brave venture out into a bitterly cold wind.
02:53In June, more tourists will arrive in another fledgling industry
02:57for the first time on direct flights from New York to Nook.
03:01Yoloap Davids, CGTN, Greenland.