GREENLAND'S HUNTING LAWS

PROACT GREENLAND

GREENLAND'S HUNTING LAWS

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Bird Hunting in Greenland - An overview of the legal development 1985 -2002

The following note compares the regulations for bird hunting and conservation in Greenland, the North Atlantic part of Denmark.

The chronology of the legal framework for bird management in Greenland since 1985 is:

The 1985 regulation: Home Rule Order No. 11 of 19^th March 1985 on Hunting on Birds in Western Greenland

The 1988 regulation: Home Rule Order No. 6 of 5^th May 1988 on the Protection of Birds in Greenland

The 1989 regulation: Home Rule Order No. 29 of 19^th September 1989 on the Protection of Birds in Greenland

The 2001 regulation: Home Rule Order No. 35 of 6^th December 2001 on the Protection of Birds

The 2002 proposal: Home Rule Order No. XX of xx.xx.2002 on the Protection of Birds [no number or date yet]

In 1978 the jurisdiction on nature management, wildlife conservation and hunting regulations was transferred from Denmark and the Danish Government to the Greenlandic Home Rule Government and Parliament. Since then national regulation and management of nature and wildlife has rested upon Greenland.

Since then the Greenlandic Parliament has laid out overall rules for wildlife management in a Nature Protection Act (Law No. 11 of 12^th November 1980) and Hunting Act (revised several times). The 1988-act for nature protection is still into force but a new act was proposed by the Greenlandic Government in the autumn 2002. The legal process has been cancelled due to Parliamentary Election on 3^rd December 2002.

Bird Protection and Hunting is regulated with reference to the above mentioned acts by a statutory order. It was revised several times in the late 1980's and again in 2001/2002. In October the then acting Greenlandic government initiated a public hearing on the new proposal for a bird protection order. The public hearing ended on 20^th November 2002, just two weeks before the parliamentary election. The fate of this proposal is not known before the new government is in place - presumably early in 2003.

The following tables compare the rules of the different bird protection orders in place in Greenland since 1985 including the revised rules suggested with this new proposal put forward in November 2002.

Examples of hunting seasons of most important bird species hunted in Greenland:

The 2002 proposal

The 2001 Regs.

The 1989 Regs.

The 1988 Regs.

The 1985 Regs.

Hunting seasons

Uria lomvia and U. aalge

(Brünnichs Guillemot and Guillemot)

All types of hunting¹:

- south of Aasiaat from

15^th Oct 15^th Feb

- north of Aasiaat from

1^st Sep 15^th Feb

Non-commercial hunting²:

- in whole country from

16^th Feb 31^st May

- in Qaanaaq from

16^th Feb 15^th June

Certain restrictions and quotas:

From 1^st Sept 15^th Feb (1th Sep 15^th Oct concerns only north of Aasiaat, 16^th Oct 15 th Feb concerns all Greenland):

- Professional hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

- Non-commercial hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

After 16^th Feb (all Greenland): All hunters may hunt only 5 birds per day

In Southwest Greenland³:

15^th Oct 15^th Feb

In Qaanaaq (Thule):

1^st Sept 15^th June

In rest of Greenland:

1^st Sept 15^th Feb

Certain restrictions and quotas:

All but professional hunters may hunt 5 birds per day only

North of Kangaatsiaq⁴:

1^st Sept 31^st May

In Qaanaaq (Thule) and Ittoqqortoomiit:

Throughout the year⁵

Rest of Greenland:

16^th Oct 14^th March

Certain restrictions and quotas:

All but professional hunters may hunt 10 birds per hunting trip only

North of Kangaatsiaq:

1^st Sept 31^st May

In Qaanaaq (Thule) and Ittoqqortoomiit:

Throughout the year⁵

Rest of Greenland:

16^th Oct 14^th March

Certain restrictions and quotas:

Hunting reserved for professional hunters

16^th Aug 14^th June,

however in Upernavik and Uummannaq municipalities hunting is allowed throughout the year

Alle alle

(Little Auk)

1^st Sept 30^th April,

however in Qaanaaq (Thule) and Ittoqqortoomiit (East Greenland) hunting of adults and nestlings is permitted throughout the whole year

1^st Sept 30^th April,

however in Qaanaaq (Thule) and Ittoqqortoomiit (East Greenland) hunting of adults is permitted from

1^st Sept 15^th June

In Qaanaaq (Thule) and Ittoqqortoomiit:

Throughout the year

Rest of Greenland:

16^th Aug 31^st May

In Qaanaaq (Thule) and Ittoqqortoomiit:

Throughout the year

Rest of Greenland:

16^th Aug 31^st May

16^th Aug 14^th June

Cephus grylle

(Black guillemot)

All types of hunting

- from 1^st Sept 15^th Feb

Non-commercial hunting:

- from 16^th Feb 31^st May

Certain restrictions and quotas:

After 16^th Feb: All hunters may hunt only 5 birds per day

1^st Sept 15^th Feb

16^th Aug 31^st May

Certain restrictions and quotas:

Hunting reserved for professional hunters

16^th Aug 14^th June

Somateria molissima

(Common Eider)

All types of hunting

- from 15^th Oct 15^th Feb

Non-commercial hunting:

16^th Feb 31^st May

Certain restrictions and quotas:

From 1^st Sept 15^th Feb (1th Sep 15^th Oct concerns only north of Aasiaat, 16^th Oct 15 th Feb concerns all Greenland):

- Professional hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

- Non-commercial hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

After 16^th Feb (all Greenland): All hunters may hunt only 5 birds per day

15^th Oct 15^th Feb

Certain restrictions and quotas:

All but professional hunters may hunt 5 birds per day only

North of Kangaatsiaq:

16^th Aug 31^st May

Rest of Greenland:

1^st Oct 31^st May

North of Kangaatsiaq:

16^th Aug 31^st May

Rest of Greenland:

1^st Oct 31^st May

16^th Aug 14^th June

North of Nagssugtoq:

Juveniles and non-breeders may be hunted throughout the year if more than 5 birds together

Somateria spectabilis

(King Eider)

All types of hunting

- from 15^th Oct 15^th Feb

Non-commercial hunting:

- from 16^th Feb 31^st May

Certain restrictions and quotas:

From 1^st Sept 15^th Feb (1th Sep 15^th Oct concerns only north of Aasiaat, 16^th Oct 15 th Feb concerns all Greenland):

- Professional hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

- Non-commercial hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

After 16^th Feb (all Greenland): All hunters may hunt only 5 birds per day

15^th Oct 15^th Feb

Certain restrictions and quotas:

All but professional hunters may hunt 5 birds per day only

16^th Aug 31^st May

16^th Aug 14^th June

North of Nagssugtoq:

Juveniles and non-breeders may be hunted throughout the year if more than 5 birds together

Clangula hyemalis

(Long-tailed Duck)

All types of hunting

- from 15^th Oct 15^th Feb

Non-commercial hunting:

- from 16^th Feb 31^st May

Certain restrictions and quotas:

From 1^st Sept 15^th Feb (1th Sep 15^th Oct concerns only north of Aasiaat, 16^th Oct 15 th Feb concerns all Greenland):

- Professional hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

- Non-commercial hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

After 16^th Feb (all Greenland): All hunters may hunt only 5 birds per day

15^th Oct 15^th Feb

16^th Aug 31^st May

16^th Aug 14^th June

North of Nagssugtoq:

Juveniles and non-breeders may be hunted throughout the year if more than 5 birds together

Rissa tridactyla

(Black-legged Kittiwake)

All types of hunting

- from 1^st Sept 15^th Feb

Non-commercial hunting:

- from 16^th Feb 31^st May

Certain restrictions and quotas:

From 1^st Sept 15^th Feb (1th Sep 15^th Oct concerns only north of Aasiaat, 16^th Oct 15 th Feb concerns all Greenland):

- Professional hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

- Non-commercial hunters may hunt 30 birds per day only

After 16^th Feb (all Greenland): All hunters may hunt only 5 birds per day

1^st Sept 15^th Feb

16^th Aug 31^st May

16^th Aug 14^th June,

however in Upernavik and Uummannaq municipalities hunting is allowed throughout the year

Anser brachyrhynchus

(Pink-footed Goose)

1^st Sept 30^th April, however 1^st Sept 31^st May in Ittoqqortoomiit (East Greenland) on migrating birds

In Ittoqqortoormiit:

1^st Sept 1^st July on birds migrating along the sea ice

In rest of Greenland:

1^st Sep 30^th April

In Ittoqqortoormiit:

1^st Sept 31^st May, however 1^st Sept 1^st July on birds migrating along the sea ice

In rest of Greenland:

16^th Aug 30^th April

In Ittoqqortoormiit:

1^st Sept 31^st May, however 1^st Sept 1^st July on birds migrating along the sea ice

In rest of Greenland:

16^th Aug 30^th April

Totally protected

Branta leucopsis

(Barnacle Goose)

1^st Sept 30^th April, however 1^st Sept 31^st May in Ittoqqortoormiit (East Greenland) on migrating birds

In Ittoqqortoormiit:

1^st Sept 1^st July on birds migrating along the sea ice

In rest of Greenland:

1^st Sep 30^th April

In Ittoqqortoormiit:

1^st Sept 31^st May, however 1^st Sept 1^st July on birds migrating along the sea ice

In rest of Greenland:

16^th Aug 30^th April

In Ittoqqortoormiit:

1^st Sept 31^st May, however 1^st Sept 1^st July on birds migrating along the sea ice

In rest of Greenland:

16^th Aug 30^th April

Totally protected

Anser albifrons

(White-fronted Goose)

1^st Sept 15^th Oct

16^th Aug 30^th April

Totally protected

Larus glaucoides (Iceland Gull)	1^st Sept 30^th April	1^st Sept 30^th April	16^th Aug 31^st May	16^th Aug 31^st May	16^th Aug 14^th June Juveniles and non-breeders may be hunted throughout the year if more than 5 birds together
Larus hyperboreus (Glacous Gull)	1^st Sept 30^th April	1^st Sept 30^th April	16^th Aug 31^st May, however in Qaanaaq and Ittoqqortoormiit throughout the year	16^th Aug 31^st May	16^th Aug 14^th June Juveniles and non-breeders may be hunted throughout the year if more than 5 birds together
Larus marinus (Great Black-backed Gull)	1^st Sept 30^th April	1^st Sept 30^th April	16^th Aug 31^st May	16^th Aug 31^st May	16^th Aug 14^th June Juveniles and non-breeders may be hunted throughout the year if more than 5 birds together
Total number of species with hunting seasons	20 species	20 species	25 species	25 species	29 species

Notes:

1: All types of hunting: Includes Professional and sports hunting c. 2,000 inhabitants have a professional hunting license and c. 9,000 a sports hunting license.

2: Non-commercial hunting: In the legal text the following phrases are used: for use in own household. Professional hunters will also be allowed to hunt for use in own household.

3: Southwest Greenland: Soutwestern parts of Greenland west of c. 46°W (Nanortalik) and south of c. 68°N (Kangaatisiaq).

4: North of Kangaatsiaq: On the west coast north of c. 68°N.

5: Concerns Brünnichs Guillemot only.


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