Greenland fishers offer $45 per heart to cull 1,000 sharks; plan halted over legality

Greenland shark, Image: Saul Goner, SeaPics Greenland became the centre of an unusual dispute over one of the world's longest-lived vertebrates after the municipal council of Avannaata approved a proposal to cull 1,000 Greenland sharks. Under the scheme, fishermen would have received 300 Danish kroner, about $45, for each shark heart they brought in. The proposal was intended to address complaints that Greenland sharks damage fishing gear and take fish from fishing lines, with some fishermen reporting substantial losses from damaged equipment. But the plan raised concerns because Greenland sharks can live for centuries, grow extremely slowly and may not reach sexual maturity until around 150 years of age. The proposed bounty was subsequently abandoned after Greenland's government questioned whether the municipality had the legal authority to introduce it.Why Greenland fishers want the sharks removedGreenland sharks are regularly encountered by fishermen targeting species including Greenland halibut and cod. They can become caught in longlines, gillnets and trawling equipment, while also taking fish caught on hooks. For fishermen operating in remote Arctic waters, damaged or lost eq...