Mads St Clair: Sascha, thank you for chatting with me today. Where did you grow up and how did you get interested in marine science?

Sascha Schiøtt: “I grew up in South Greenland in a town called Qaqortoq and I’ve always been interested in all kinds of life – especially insects. My family had a boat, so we’d sail around whenever we could, going fishing and hunting. Those are my best childhood memories, being out in nature. I was drawn to biology early on and I wanted to study wildlife.”

Mads St Clair: South Greenland sounds different from other parts of Greenland. Can you describe it?

Sascha Schiøtt:  “Yes, South Greenland is quite different from the typical image of Greenland. We have sheep, cattle, horses, and planted trees and we don’t get much sea ice or have sled dogs like they do further north. We mostly see pack ice from the East Coast in the spring. It’s a milder environment.”

Mads St Clair: So, what led you to study the ocean and, specifically, species that depend on sea ice?

Sascha Schiøtt: “The ocean’s constant transformation fascinated me. It’s such a changing ecosystem, especially with sea ice dependent species affected by climate change. I wanted to understand these changes better, which led me to do my master’s thesis on sea ice ecosystems and eventually my PhD. here in Nuuk.”

Mads St Clair: Can you tell me about your PhD research? What was the main focus?

Sascha Schiøtt: “My research focused on the marine ecosystem within Ilulissat Icefjord – specifically, a system that’s hard to reach and hasn’t been studied much. I wanted to explore new methods to understand the ecosystem, without using invasive techniques like research vessels. So, I combined environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling with local knowledge from fishers and hunters, who know these fjords well.”

Mads St Clair: What was it like collaborating with local hunters and fishers? How did they respond to the project?

Sascha Schiøtt: “Some were sceptical at first. They asked, “Why are you doing this interview? What’s in it for me?” I explained that their knowledge would form the base of the study. I wanted to involve them directly, rather than just relying on their insights without including them in the process. Over time, they understood and appreciated the collaborative approach.”

Mads St Clair: I really love the co-development approach you took to research. What kind of knowledge did they share and how did it fit with your eDNA findings?

Sascha Schiøtt: “They told me about fish they often see as bycatch, when fishing for halibut, and my eDNA data matched their reports. They were surprised I could gather information from just water samples, but when we netted plankton, they understood that better because it was visible. The eDNA results confirmed species they knew were there, validating their knowledge with scientific data.”

Mads St Clair: I really love how this study brought together traditional knowledge and modern science. You mentioned that the fjord system is hard to reach. How did you manage the fieldwork?

Sascha Schiøtt: “In summer, we’d access the area by helicopter, but in winter, we’d travel by snowmobile and walk on the sea ice. Three out of four field trips were on the sea ice, where we drilled through nearly a metre of sea ice to collect samples. The sea ice is actually thinner now than it used to be, which makes fieldwork harder due to more unstable sea ice. For eDNA, I filtered water samples for analysis, and it was a lot of work for each sample in the lab.”

Mads St Clair: A really exciting finding is that you found that certain species, like halibut and ringed seals, are unique in this fjord. What makes them different?

Sascha Schiøtt: “The limited access to the fjord gives species time to grow without as much pressure from predators like Greenland sharks, which are common outside the fjord, or from fishing and hunting activities from human. The ringed seals in the fjord are genetically unique – they’re larger, with distinct coloration, and even taste different. Locals describe the meat as stronger, and some like it more, while others don’t.”

Mads St Clair: And you tracked the seals’ diving patterns too?

Sascha Schiøtt: “Yes. Older seals dive deeper, reaching depths of 300 to 400 metres because they have a higher oxygen capacity and hence higher diving capacity. We recorded an adult seal diving as deep as 757 metres. These depths are only possible because the fjord has such rich prey sources, like small crustaceans and shrimp-like creatures.”

Mads St Clair: How are the fjord seals and other marine species affected by climate change?

Sascha Schiøtt: “The thinning sea ice is a big problem. It not only affects seals’ ability to reproduce, as they rely on stable ice for raising pups, but it also shortens the sea ice season. It used to form in October and break up in late May, but now it forms in November and breaks up in April – so the sea ice season is two months shorter. This makes hunting and fishing for local communities less reliable, impacting food resources and traditional practices.”

Mads St Clair: What challenges did you face in the field, besides the changing ice?

Sascha Schiøtt: “Weather is usually the biggest challenge in Greenland, but I was lucky this time – there were no delays, and I even finished early on one trip, which rarely happens! Working with hunters and fishers also came with its challenges, as it’s a mostly male dominated community, but the more I return to these areas, the easier it gets to connect with them.”

Mads St Clair: We’ve previously chatted about your passion for co-designing research with communities. How do you see Indigenous knowledge playing a role in your future research?

Sascha Schiøtt: “I’d like to start a project that fully incorporates local knowledge from the beginning. Fishers and hunters have years of experience in these ecosystems and adapt their strategies based on their observations. They know what to expect in the future better than many scientists who only visit briefly. My goal is to make research more inclusive by giving local communities a say from the outset.”

Mads St Clair: How important is it to have Greenlandic representation in the field of marine science?

Sascha Schiøtt: “It’s vital. When I started my studies, I had to leave Greenland and go to Denmark, which was a big culture shock—no mountains, no ocean views. Now, Greenland is developing its own bachelor’s program in biology, which is a huge step forward. It’s focused on Greenlandic nature and language, so young Greenlanders can study closer to home and stay connected to their environment.”

Mads St Clair: What’s next for you? Do you have any new projects in the works?

Sascha Schiøtt: “I’d like to secure funding for a project that’s fully shaped by local communities – their concerns, their questions, and their observations. I believe this could create a more sustainable research model that combines traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods. By working together, we can find solutions that respect both Greenlandic heritage and the environment.”

Mads St Clair: Your work sounds like such a meaningful blend of science and community. What’s your favourite part of the job?

Sascha Schiøtt: “Just being out in nature. The sounds of the icebergs cracking and shifting are amazing. It’s captivating. Like a fantasy world that you step into and all the sounds that you’re surrounded by. It reminds me of how unique these ecosystems are.”

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