GREENLAND HALIBUT FISHING

Halibut can be caught with longline from a hole in the sea ice, a method that has been used for more than 300 years.

Originally a single hook was put on the line. Today multiple hooks are used.

In 1924 Marius Sivertsen invented  the “glider”. Marius was from Ilulissat. The glider is a metal plate that is attached to the line. The plate makes the line stretch out across the seabed. There can be several hundred hooks on the line.

• What kind of fish do you see in the picture?

• How was the catch brought home 100 years ago? See the picture on the next slide.

• Click on the link and find information about the Greenland halibut.

  This I know about the halibut:

For almost 800 years dogs have been used as working animals in northern Greenland.

The dog sled is an important means of transport

With a dog sled you can travel many kilometres over the mountains to reach the best fishing areas.

The sled dogs can run approximately 60 km a day, but they do need a rest during the trip.

• One of these pictures was taken in 1934, the other one in 2014. Which one is the oldest, and how do you see that?

• Why is the dog sled still an important means of transport even though snowmobiles are available?

• What other working animals do you know?

Ilulissat is known for the halibut fishing.

In summer dinghies and small motorboats are used.

The fishermen lay out lines with 500-700 hooks attached.

The fishing industry is one of the most important

sources of employment and income in Ilulissat. Today prawn fishing has gained in importance.

Find more information about halibut.

• How many halibut can be reeled in on one line?

• How are halibut caught in winter?

• How big can a halibut become? 

  Lenght:

  Weight:

Greenland halibut can be caught with longline from a hole in the sea ice, an old method still being used today.

Originally a single hook was used on the line, that was made of whalebone from baleen whales. Today multiple hooks are used.

In 1924 Marius Sivertsen invented  the “glider”. Marius was from Ilulissat. The glider is a metal plate that is attached to the line. The plate makes the line stretch out across the seabed. There can be several hundred hooks on the line.

• Give a detailed description of the picture. 

• On the next slide is a picture of fishing at the edge of the ice in Ilulissat 1925. How was the catch brought home?

• Click on the link and find information about the Greenland halibut.

  This I know about the Greenland halibut:

For almost 800 years dogs have been used as working animals in northern Greenland.

The dog sled is still an important means of transport. It glides noiselessly through the snow without scaring the game animals away.

With a dog sled you can travel many kilometres over the mountains to reach the best fishing areas.

The sled dogs can run approximately 60 km a day, but they do need a rest during the trip.

• The sled dog is the only working animal used in northern Greenland. Mention other places where working animals are used, and what animals they are.

• Why is the dog sled still an important means of transport even though snowmobiles are available?

• What do you know about the Greenland sled dog? Find more information in the book Qimmeq.

Ilulissat is known for the Greenland halibut fishing.

In summer dinghies, small motorboats and fishing cutters are used.

The fishermen lay out lines with 500-700 hooks attached so that many fish can be reeled in.

The fishing industry is one of the most important

sources of employment and income in Ilulissat. Today prawn fishing is more important than fishing of Greenland halibut.

Find more information about Greenland halibut.

• In the picture a 300 years old fishing method is being used. Which one?

• How are Greenland halibut caught in winter?

• How big can a Greenland halibut become? 

  Lenght:

  Weight:

The former settlements were dependent on the rich life at the Icefjord.

Many of the traditional fishing methods of the past are still being used today.

Formerly fishing was done using a line with one hook but in 1924 the “glider” was invented. This made it possible to use several hundred hooks on one line.

• In the past lines were made from baleens. What is a baleen whale?

• What kind of fish is a Greenland halibut?

• What do you see in the picture at page 11 in the book?

The sled dog has been used as a working animal for 800 years. It is strong and enduring.

The sled dog has adapted to life in the Arctic. It has a dense undercoat and a thick fur so that it can keep warm in extreme cold.

The picture shows 16 sled dogs resting.

• Why is the dog sled superior to other means of transport for hunting?

• The sled dog is a working animal. What is a working animal? Give some examples.

• On pages 16-17 in the book is a picture of a trip from Ilulissat to Tasiilaq. How long was that trip?

This picture of dinghies is from Ilulissat 1933. In the book is a picture from 2017. Dinghies are still used for fishing but now with an engine.

Ilulissat is famous for the fat Greenland halibut because of the abundant food in the Icefjord. 

Fishing of Greenland halibut is an important part of the industry in Ilulissat. Recently this has declined, and fishing of prawns has taken over.

• What might have caused fishing of Greenland halibut to decline and fishing of prawns to take over?

• On pages 20-21 in the book is a picture of fish being caught with longline. What is a longline?

• How many hooks can be attached to a longline?

The former settlements were dependent on the rich life at the Icefjord.

Many of the traditional fishing methods of the past are still being used today.

Formerly fishing was done using a line with one hook but in 1924 the “glider” was invented. This made it possible to use several hundred hooks on one line.

• What is a baleen whale? Are all whales baleen whales?

• How do Greenland halibut differ from other flatfish?

• What do you see in the picture at page 11 in the book?

The sled dog has been used as a working animal for 800 years. It is strong and enduring and can cover 60 km a day.

The sled dog has adapted to life in the Arctic. It has a dense undercoat and a thick fur so that it can keep warm in extreme cold.

The picture shows a team of 16 sled dogs resting.

• Why is the dog sled superior to other means of transport for hunting?

• The season for driving dog sleds is getting shorter with each year – why is that?

• On pages 16-17 in the book is a picture of a trip from Ilulissat to Tasiilaq. How long was that trip?

This picture of dinghies is from Ilulissat 1933. In the book is a picture from 2017. Dinghies are still used for fishing but now with an engine.

Ilulissat is famous for the fat Greenland halibut because of the abundant food in the Icefjord. 

Fishing of Greenland halibut is an important part of the industry in Ilulissat. Recently this has declined, and fishing of prawns has taken over.

• What does it mean to fishermen in Greenland that fishing of Greenland halibut has declined in favour of fishing of prawns?

• On pages 20-21 in the book is a picture of fish being caught with longline. What is a longline?

• What do Greenland halibut in the Icefjord eat?