

Catch your own food – Greenland
Published: 27/07/2022
Reading time: 3 minutes

The biggest industry in Greenland is hunting and fisheries. So many families prioritize a boat before getting a car, especially the smaller towns and settlements.Â
In some places in Greenland, we don´t use the supermarket as much as the rest of the world. In the settlements especially the inhabitants catch pretty much everything they need for dinner and only use the supermarket to buy soap, coffee, cereal, sugar, etc.

This is the harbor in Aasiaat, most of the open boats are used for fishing while the ones with hoods are used for weekend tours and transportation from town to another to visit friends and families.Â
In the picture, there aren´t that many fisher boats, probably because they are out fishing 🙂Â
The red building is the seaman’s home, which originally was mostly used by fishermen and sailors. They came and read the newspaper, called home to their family, and got themselves a cup of coffee. They are located close to the harbor and are today used as accommodation for anyone.

This is a normal sight in Greenland. In this country, we fish all year round. Our biggest income is from exporting fish. But some are not for sale but for private use. Many private homes hang their catch outside their home. That can be fish, whale, seal, reindeer, musk ox, you name it.Â

My favorite Greenlandic food is what you see in the picture above. It is dried reindeer meat, and I love to eat it with whale skin “Mattak” with an apple, and Aromat, which is a salted spicy. In Greenland, we have quotas for the catch of many animals and mammals, but with reminder hunting, it is a bit different.
A hunter has to apply for his catch and he/she will get a pass for 5 deers when this is done you just apply for a new pass. It´s just to have the number for how many reindeer caught for the season. The hunting season is from the 1st of August to 1stof October. Many are going out by boat camping on the 31st of July, ready to shoot at midnight.Â
For booking your own fishing experience, check out our tour here.
Try some of our tours offering Greenlandic food.
If you are interested in camping in Greenland, check out our tours here.
Read more travel blogs from Laali Berthelsen
-
5.00(1)
Snowshoe in the Northern Night | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration2.5 hoursFrom 550 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
Ice Cap Adventure | East Greenland
Tour startsTasiilaqDuration8 hoursFrom 3400 DKKSee more -
Kayaking tour from Tasiilaq | East Greenland
Tour startsTasiilaqDuration2.5 hoursFrom 900 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
Snowshoe Winter Hike | Sisimiut
Tour startsSisimiutDuration3 hoursFrom 490 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)
3-Day Wilderness Journey: Hiking, Kayaking & Camping | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 daysFrom 15600 DKKSee more -
5.00(11)New tour!
Private Combined Boat & Kayaking tour by the Icefjord | Ilulissat
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 hoursFrom 1870 DKKSee more -
Snowmobile Adventure | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration4 hoursFrom 6000 DKKSee more -
Ice fishing | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration5 hoursFrom 2000 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)2026 departures available!
11-Day Adventure Across Greenland’s Scenic Towns | West Greenland
Tour startsFrom CopenhagenDuration11 daysFrom 44900 DKKSee more -
10 days of hiking through Arctic nature & villages | East Greenland
Tour startsFrom IcelandDuration10 daysFrom 38400 DKKSee more -
FLIGHTS FROM DENMARK INCLUDED!
Luxury Arctic Escape – Aurora Cabins & Helicopter Glacier Tour | 5-Days | Ilulissat
Tour startsFrom CopenhagenDuration5 daysFrom 31300 DKKSee more -
Dog Sled Express | Tasiilaq | East Greenland
Tour startsTasiilaqDuration2 hoursFrom 1200 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)Children friendly tour!
Family friendly Dogsledding Express tour | Ilulissat
Tour startsIlulissatDuration1.5 hoursFrom 1595 DKKSee more -
Includes 1 to 7 Passengers!
Kangersuneq Fjord Safari | Private Charter | Qasigiannguit | Diskobay
Tour startsQasigiannguitDuration5 hoursFrom 6200 DKKSee more -
Price for 4 people!
Expedition South Greenland by Helicopter | Qaqortoq | South Greenland
Tour startsQaqortoqDuration5 hoursFrom 47200 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)
Ukkusissaq Mountain Hike | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration5 hoursFrom 2195 DKKSee more -
Kuannit Hike | Qeqertarsuaq | Disko Bay
Tour startsQeqertarsuaqDuration4 hoursFrom 595 DKKSee more