Denmark & Greenland

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In Denmark and Greenland, fishing and the processing of seafood and fish are - and have traditionally been - important for both countries.

Denmark is one of the world's largest importers and exporters of fish and fish products; the processing industry produces a large variety of products based on many different species.

The fishing industry in Greenland is very important to the national economy of Greenland and the local food supply. It is the source of many people's livelihoods all across the country. Fishing exports from Greenland in the past 20 years accounted for about 90% of the country's total exports with international firms finding it a profitable business.

Challenges

Funding and investments

Funding is mainly available for energy reduction, development of fishing tools etc. Not for development of new competences/skills.

Sustainability

Due to the logistical challenge in Greenland, side-streams are dumped in the sea if there is no other economical sustainable application of the biomass. This is approved by the authorities, but expensive for the industry. In Denmark, the wastewater is discharged into the public wastewater treatment plants, which is expensive due to the high content of protein.

Regulation

Approval of new technological solutions can be a long process. Greenland is not a part of the EU, but a part of the Danish Kingdom, therefore it can take a longer time to have an application processed e.g., use of purified seawater in the processing. The Danish industry are challenged by different implementation of regulations in different EU-countries.

Competition

In Denmark, the industry competes with among others the life science industry for unskilled labour. In Greenland, the cost of logistics is a challenge, because most of the finished products are for export and need to be transported long distances. This means the cost is higher compared with local competitors’ costs at the final destination.

Talent and workforce development

In the rural areas in both Denmark and Greenland, it is a challenge to recruit people for both the processing of fish and seafood products and for the innovative development of the side-streams.

Geography

Infrastructure and logistics in Greenland are challenging. You cannot travel by car/truck between two settlements, villages or towns.

Business plan/sales channels

The industry needs to find new sustainable business models for the marketing of the side-streams and in some cases develop the existing models.

Access to raw materials

Access to raw material has become very competitive in Denmark. Quotas have over the last years been reduced and the industry has been affected by BREXIT.

Key supporters

All relevant actors, including local and regional authorities, primary biomass producers, SMEs, civil society organisations, knowledge providers etc. will be engaged in BlueRev.

Danish Seafood Association