Arctic Small-Scale Fisheries
For many Arctic communities, seafood is more than an important source of protein. Fish informs the fabric of life.
Indigenous communities are longstanding stewards of our ocean
For millennia, Inuit have lived in and with the natural environment and have been studying it, testing and retesting the knowledge gained, sharing, discussing and refining that knowledge. This continues as strongly today as it has since time immemorial. Inuit, therefore, hold both the most complete set of historical knowledge and the most relevant observational knowledge of today’s Arctic. Therefore, Indigenous communities hold valuable expertise for sustainable fisheries with the health of our ocean in mind.
However, current policies regarding Canadian fisheries often create barriers for the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge systems in decision making processes and fishery evaluations.
Ocean Wise has endeavored to co-create an inclusive method for evaluating the sustainability of Canadian fisheries by engaging with Northern communities. We hope to help redefine sustainability to include both Western Science and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) – an Inuit values system where ecological, social, and cultural aspects are encompassed - and expand the equity of our recommendations
Why is this work important?
The insights gained from Ocean Wise’s work in the Canadian Arctic will play a pivotal role in shaping global strategies for ensuring the resilience of small-scale fisheries and coastal communities world-wide.
Through assessing the community, environmental, and ecological impact of a fishery, we can move towards fishery management plans that are accurate and attainable for a more ocean friendly future
