The Executive Management recognises that developments within fishing and production must be adapted and addressed locally. The picture was taken in the settlement Kullorsuaq. Jens K. Lyberth, Director External Relations and HR: “Labour shortages are associated with traditional activities” Members of Royal Greenland’s Executive Management team have put on their thinking caps after visiting the area around Upernavik this summer. The management has recognised that commercial fishing and production in summer can be difficult because both the fishermen and the production employees take advantage of the long summer days to engage in traditional Greenlandic activities. Considerations regarding local solutions in cooperation with the residents of the towns and villages have been discussed with the organisations, and reorganising fishing and production with greater seasonal variation could be a possible solution. For many years, it has been a well-known fact in Greenland that a shortage of labour during the summer months can make it difficult to land fish and maintain factory production. Royal Greenland’s Executive Management were able to see this for themselves when they visited the Royal Greenland factory facilities at Upernavik. In some places the plants were closed, and the settlements devoid of inhabitants. “We have long been aware of the fact that a shortage of labour in the summer is associated with traditional activities in Greenland. People understandably make the most of the long summer days to hunt for food to see them through the winter, visit their families up and down the coast, and to hold confirmation parties etc.” “During our trip to Upernavik, we also encountered closed plants and settlements that were almost completely desolate. We were told that everyone had gone to Upernavik to participate in or attend a football match. All of these activities take place in the summer when the fishing is at its peak, and the factories are short of both suppliers and labour,” says Jens K. Lyberth, Director External Relations and HR. Local solutions The Executive Management therefore recognises that developments within fishing and production must be adapted and addressed locally. “The obvious thing is to plan the fishing so it happens before and after the traditional activities and events. We talked about this during our trip to the Upernavik area, and the trade union Building up a winter food supply – a cultural tradition Since times of old, Greenlanders have traditionally accumulated supplies of food from early spring to late autumn. Once the cold winter passed and darkness lifted, Greenlandic families moved to summer settlements to hunt and fish. Seals, birds, fish, reindeer and hares were caught, and berries, seaweed and other beneficial plants were gathered so that families could endure the cold, dark winter. This tradition of accumulating supplies for the winter continues to this day in Greenland. Even highly educated Greenlanders with good incomes keep the tradition alive, while foreign labour has taken the tradition on board and benefits from the country’s resources which today are more or less subject to quotas so that hunting and fishing is sustainable. NAVIGATIO NO. 3 2015 13
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