FEED the North Project: Conservation in a Changing Arctic 

Climate change is pushing the Canadian Arctic to become one of the fastest changing ecosystems on the planet.   

Due to rising ocean temperatures and melting sea ice, Northern waters are becoming accessible to outsiders; humans, vessels, and marine life. Not only are new species making their way to the Canadian Arctic (like B.C. Salmon!). But other countries are expressing interest in fishing these vulnerable and valuable waters. 

Currently, fishing in international Arctic waters is banned thanks to the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement. However, this agreement is set to expire in 2037. The need for proactive conservation in the Arctic has never been more crucial. To both prevent unsustainable fishing and recognize the rights of Northern communities to self-determine the use of resources they rely on.  

That’s why in 2021, Ocean Wise and Ikaarvik, a youth-focused Inuit-led non-profit, partnered to launch the Fisheries and Economic Development in the North (FEED the North) Project. This project engaged Inuit youth to incorporate Inuit Knowledge and Values (also called Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit; IQ) into sustainable seafood assessment methods. For Ocean Wise, the collaboration was both an amazing opportunity and a necessity. The integration of Inuit knowledge cannot be done without direct involvement and expertise from Indigenous community members and Knowledge Holders. Ocean Wise is pleased to share some of the valuable lessons we learned through this work.  

Arctic Communities and the Ocean 

In the North, seafood is more than just a source of protein—it’s a way of life. Fish informs the fabric of life, with fishing being a key component of Northern livelihoods and Inuit culture. Fishing is a way that family’s bond, share language, and teach valuable life skills to younger generations. Small-scale Arctic fisheries also provide job opportunities and contribute to community food security.  

Small-scale fisheries, which typically operate with smaller boats and more hand-held gear, have relatively low catch volumes and often a long history in coastal communities. Although these characterizations don’t mean a fishery is inherently sustainable, the survival of the fishery and its community is inextricably connected to the health of the marine environment. Making sustainability not just a goal but a necessity. 

However, small-scale fisheries are often underrepresented in sustainable seafood spaces, with Arctic fisheries being no exception.  

Barriers to Sustainability Recognition 

Global seafood consumption has increased by 3% every year since the sixties. But the demand for sustainably harvested foods is on the rise as well. With 70 per cent of Canadians looking for eco-labels when they shop. However, Arctic small-scale fisheries, many of which fish sustainably, aren’t getting the recognition they deserve. 

Two main hurdles stand in the way: the high cost of getting seafood assessed and the fact that standard assessments have not traditionally included Indigenous Knowledge. 

1) The Cost of Conducting Seafood Assessments 

Conducting seafood assessments can be expensive and time-consuming, making them challenging to complete. Small-scale fisheries play an important role in supporting coastal communities and contributing to the global catch. However they are frequently overlooked due to their perceived economic insignificance and rarely assessed.   

But the problem extends beyond access to assessments. Currently, small-scale fisheries are assessed using the same methods and data expectations as large industrial operations. However, it’s increasingly clear that small-scale fisheries need tailored assessment models. Specifically models that account for their unique data limitations as well as the incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge for more equitable fisheries evaluations worldwide. 

2) Barriers to Indigenous Knowledge Inclusion 

At Ocean Wise we rate the sustainability of seafood using a set of criteria based on the best available science. You can learn more about how we score wild-caught and farmed seafood here.  

While this system works well for hundreds of species, there are limitations when it comes to small-scale or community-based fisheries. Including the lack of integration of Indigenous Knowledge systems. At Ocean Wise, we recognize that there are many ways to evaluate and maintain sustainable fisheries beyond traditional Western approaches. 

By not only incorporating Indigenous Knowledge but actively co-designing the assessment process with Indigenous communities—and valuing community knowledge on par with traditional data-gathering methods—we can create an equitable, more accurate approach to measuring sustainability.  

Ocean Wise and Ikaarvik’s Collaborative Approach

Recognizing the need for Inuit self-determination in fisheries research and sustainability evaluations in the North and the barriers community-based fisheries face in reaching the sustainable seafood market, Ocean Wise and Ikaarvik partnered in 2021 to create the FEED the North project. 

Combining Ocean Wise’s expertise in sustainable seafood assessments with Ikaarvik’s focus on bridging the gap between Inuit knowledge and Western science, we set out to create a dialogue. Our goal was to co-develop a shared understanding of seafood sustainability and to design a framework that respects both Western science and Inuit Knowledge and Values systems – also known as Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.  

In our next blog, we share more of what we learned throughout this project!  

The Feed the North Project was Funded by the Future Skills Centre