Lars PETERSEN - Hunter

Upernavik - Latitude 72 46 NR - Longitude 056 09 W

1.300 inhabitants

Interviewed in June 2009

Fifteen years ago, off the coast, the pack-ice was fifty centimetres thick – nowadays it is only fifteen. It used to be there from December to May, i.e. half the year, compared to two months today. Even during the two months, the condition of the ice is not always good. It is possible to have problems with the dogs, and the ice can easily crack in places. This situation also affects the fauna. We have a lot of polar bears. They find their hunting conditions and survival better on our coast. There are also a lot of northern whales who come up as far as here – before they stayed more in the south. For two years now, we see them following the shoals of “amacets”, who have also become more numerous.

Twenty years ago, the temperatures were much colder – they’ve gone up in the years 2000. We’ve had a few cold spells, without getting down to the low temperatures of the past. We are increasingly obliged to use our boats for hunting during winter. Summer arrives late, the month of June is colder. In May, the most critical month of the year, I was only able to go hunting on two occasions: the ice isn’t thick enough to go on it with the dogs, but it’s too thick for our boats to pass. Between this problem and the weather conditions, the opportunities for hunting are really limited.

I’m concerned by all these European restrictions, which interfere with our way of life, especially as for the most part, they are not justified. The scientists announce that some species are in danger, while we see them growing.