Greenland catching too many narwhals

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

Greenland is hunting far more narwhals than recommended by the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Organization, and, as a result, has been slapped with a temporary ban on commercial exports of narwhals to the European Union market.

The new rules also prohibit Greenland from exporting jewelry made from narwhal teeth.

The Danish Forest and Nature Council imposed the temporary ban, after the Netherlands filed a formal complaint with the EU Commission on Greenland’s hunting and trapping activities.

Dutch representatives have questioned whether Greenland’s narwhal trapping activities are sustainable, as the island’s current catch far exceeds the recommendations of NAMMCO.

Home Rule Government spokesman Niels Nielsen said Greenland must now provide evidence that its narwhal hunting activities are sustainable.

Earlier this summer, Greenland adopted a catch quota of 300 narwhals per year, a significant reduction over last year’s catch of 700 animals, but NAMMCO has recommended that Greenland limit their yearly catch to 135.

So far this year, the number of narwhals caught is already higher than the recommended limit.

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