Why did seal hunting decline as Greenland’s main economic activity during the early 20th century?

Seal hunting declined as the primary economic activity in Greenland during the early 20th century because it was supplanted by the fishing, canning, and freezing of cod, shrimp, and other marine life.1

This transition was part of a broader shift in Greenland’s economy between 1905 and 1929, during which residents moved from a traditional subsistence economy toward commercial activities such as cod fishing and sheep breeding. While seal hunting remains an important source of meat today, the commercial focus shifted toward the fishing industry to support the island's evolving economy.21