Greenland’s fishing industry is riding a wave of strong prices for mackerel in 2025. Historic highs are fuelling optimism across the North Atlantic, with catches both steady and profitable.
Fairytale Prices in the North Atlantic
In Norway, one of the world’s biggest mackerel nations, the industry calls the prices “fairytale.” Some catches are selling for more than 39 NOK per kilo — equal to about 25 DKK. One Norwegian operator even compared it to “winning the lottery.”
Greenlandic firms are less vocal, but they share a positive outlook. “2025 has been our best year. Catches are solid, and prices are good,” said Carl Christensen, director of Sikuaq Trawl, to Sermitsiaq.
Greenlandic Vessels at Sea
Greenlandic vessels, such as Svend C., Polar Amaroq, and Polar Ammassak, are active in the Norwegian Sea. They fish side by side with fleets from other nations. Skipper Geir Zoega has reported excellent quality, with fish averaging 535 grams and seasonal yields of up to 12,000 tonnes.
Companies, including Polar Seafood Greenland, Pelagic Greenland, and Sikuaq Trawl, sell frozen mackerel to Faroese factories at a price of 18–20 DKK per kilogram. Fresh fish fetch slightly less.
Quotas Nearly Fulfilled
Greenland’s mackerel quota for 2025 is 37,500 tonnes. Only about 8,000 tonnes remain uncaught, according to Greenland’s Fisheries and Hunting Control.
The total international quota is set at 576,700 tonnes. That is 22 per cent lower than last year, following scientific advice from ICES. Even with the cut, the season has been strong.