

Seals of Greenland
Published: 23/03/2011
Reading time: 3 minutes
Text:Â Greenland Today
Photos:Â Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid
Article from the former magazine, Greenland Today
Greenland’s seals – the myths
Greenland seals are no longer in general characterized as endangered species. These and other point of views are the outcomes of the work of researcher Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid in his new book »Seals of Greenland«.
The number of Greenland seals in the population living between Greenland and Canada has grown from around 1.8 million in the early 1970s, to around 7-8 million seals today.
The harbour seal or common seal as it is generally known, is the only one of the Greenland seal species that has been declining in number. Therefore, from 1 December 2010, it is now protected in Greenland, along with the gray seal, which was seen in Greenland for the first time with certainty in 2009.
In the book »Seals of Greenland« researcher Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid describes the status of seals in the sea around Greenland. The book gives a good insight into factors that affect seal life and researcher Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid (MSc (biology) and Ph.D, University of Copenhagen, has studied the life conditions of the seals over many years.
Seals are no longer the fundamental life condition
Until recently the seals have played a significant role in the survival of the Greenlandic people. They provided meat for the pot, fuel for lamps, and skins for clothing and so they were the backbone of the daily household.
However, slowly but surely, refrigerators and modern life have reduced their importance. Yet they are still the economic base for many people and the Greenlandic seal hunt is actually bigger than ever before. Around 150,000 seals are hunted annually and seal meat is still eaten by a large proportion of the population. For many of the approx. 2,500 full-time hunters, seal skin is their main source of income and for many years about 55-75 people have worked in the Great Greenland tannery.
Seals are still important, but they have lost their fundamental importance as fisheries and a number of other new industries have been developed.
Seals and fishermen are competing
The relationship with the seals has therefore also changed. Centuries of exploitation of the seal breeding grounds have now come under scrutiny, and many seal colonies have increased significantly in recent decades. Large numbers of seals are no longer only associated with wealth and prosperity.
The seals are now seen by many fishermen as competitors and it is therefore necessary to have a clear indication of their numbers, their eating habits, and their influence on fish stocks, which now form the backbone of Greenland’s economy.
There are more questions than answers. Arctic ecosystems are constantly changing. The growing seal population has begun to change their distribution and behavior. The climate is also changing, which has meant the fauna in the ocean has changed in general. Seals are therefore part of highly dynamic ecosystems.
Read more articles from Guide to Greenland
-
New Tour!
Disko Island Kayak Exploration | Qeqertarsuaq | Disko Bay
Tour startsQeqertarsuaqDuration3 hoursFrom 1350 DKKSee more -
5-Days Above The Arctic Circle | Sisimiut | West Greenland
Tour startsSisimiutDuration5 daysFrom 9461 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)Children friendly tour!
Family friendly Dogsledding Express tour | Ilulissat
Tour startsIlulissatDuration1.5 hoursFrom 1495 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
Evening sailing with chance of Northern Lights | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration3 hoursFrom 950 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)
Oqaatsut Kayaking Day | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration7 hoursFrom 2195 DKKSee more -
New Tour!
Introduction to Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP) | Nuuk | West Greenland
Tour startsNuukDuration2 hoursFrom 495 DKKSee more -
Private Charter!
Helicopter Summit Flight | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration1 hourFrom 22000 DKKSee more -
5.00(8)
Full day adventure on Greenland Ice sheet | Kangerlussuaq | West Greenland
Tour startsKangerlussuaqDuration8 hoursFrom 1095 DKKSee more -
1 to 6 passengers included
Iceberg Classic | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration2 hoursFrom 4000 DKKSee more -
1-10 people included
Boat charter | Open Boat | Qasigiannguit | Disko Bay
Tour startsQasigiannguitDuration2 hoursFrom 1600 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)
Hiking tour around Quassussuaq | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration3 hoursFrom 795 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
Northern Lights from a mountain top | Snowshoe tour in Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration3 hoursFrom 2800 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)New Tour!
1-Day Boat Trip to Disko island & Kuannit Hike | Qeqertarsuaq
Tour startsIlulissatDuration9.5 hoursFrom 2695 DKKSee more -
Including flights from Denmark!
8 Days of Autumn Glow & Arctic Wonders in West Greenland | Nuuk & Sisimiut
Tour startsFrom CopenhagenDuration8 daysFrom 22700 DKKSee more -
5.00(49)
Northern Lights Tour | Nuuk | West Greenland
Tour startsNuukDuration2 hoursFrom 650 DKKSee more -
VIP tour for 4 people!
Helicopter and Ice cave tour | East Greenland
Tour startsKulusuk TasiilaqDuration2 hoursFrom 27300 DKKSee more -
5.00(3)
Chasing the Northern Lights | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration2 hoursFrom 395 DKKSee more -
A 2-Day Arctic Luxury Escape at Eqi Glacier | West Greenland
Tour startsIlulissatDuration2 daysFrom 5450 DKKSee more -
New Exiting Tour
Guided tour in Nuuk with UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicles) | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration1.5 hoursFrom 1700 DKKSee more