Indigenous Fisheries Management

Indigenous groups across the Pacific Northwest Coast have relied on fishing to feed
themselves and sustain their economies for thousands of years. Over time, they have
developed fishing methods that provide them with adequate fish for their needs without
depleting stocks for future generations. This paper examines sustainable fishing methods that
are practiced by the indigenous groups in this region that include the Lummi, Puyallup,
Swinomish, and Nisqually groups (Sherman, 2020. Even though they have different
identities, they have the same sustainable approaches to fishing. In particular, the paper will
look at how these groups fish salmon, the most important fish in their culture and collective
identities.

Sustainable Fishing Among Indigenous Groups of the Pacific Northwest

Salmon is an important source of food for indigenous groups of the Pacific Northwest.
The groups have engineered various techniques and tools to help them harvest this valuable
fish. The primary method that they use to harvest salmon is the hook-and-line method
(Smithsonian, 2018). In this method, a hook is attached at the end of a pole or a line. This
fishing method ensures that just enough fish for a family or community is taken from the
waters while leaving sustainable amounts of fish to reproduce and migrate to different water
bodies in the region.

Apart from the traditional hook-and-line method, the indigenous groups also use nets.
However, the nets used are small so that they do not catch large numbers of salmon and other
fish species (Bailey, 2015). Additionally, the nets are made to target only specific sizes of the
fish. Younger and smaller fish are left to grow and reproduce. Therefore, the nets only catch a
small number of big salmon and other fish species.

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The sustainable approach to fish harvesting that the indigenous people of Pacific
Northwest employ can partly be attributed to the place of salmon in their culture. The groups
consider salmon to be a gift of food from God (Smithsonian, 2018). To them, salmon
sacrifices itself to feed them. Thus, each year, they perform special ceremonies to honor the
sacrifice of salmon (Smithsonian, 2018). Additionally, salmon is traditionally pierced,
roasted, and smoked during important cultural events, such as the Makah, a gathering to
honor thousands of years of traditions and customs. Given this importance of salmon to their
culture and livelihood, the indigenous groups in the Pacific Northwest have a strong incentive
to use sustainable fishing methods so that the fish does not become extinct.

Comparison of Fishing Management of Indigenous Groups with Contemporary Fisheries

Management

The approach of indigenous groups to fish management differs considerably with that
of contemporary fish management. Unlike the indigenous groups, contemporary fisheries
management promote increasing the quantity of harvested fish (Bailey, 2015). Therefore, the
equipment used are those that are able to capture the largest number of fish possible. Such an
approach to fishing has a negative impact on sustainable fishing as it limits the ability of fish
to maintain or increase their populations.

Contrast of the Ecological, Social, and Economic Consequences of Different Management

Approaches

Compared to fish farming methods employed by indigenous groups, contemporary
fisheries management has negative ecological, economic, and social consequences.
Ecologically, the capture of large numbers of fish, both young and old, makes it almost
impossible for the fish to reproduce and maintain their populations. Therefore, there is risk of

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the fish becoming extinct. Environmentally, the use of large fishing vessels together with the
development of infrastructural projects, such as damming has interfered with reproduction
grounds of salmon and other fishes that primarily reproduce in fresh water and then go to
ocean water for feeding (Bailey, 2015). Socially, the dwindling reserves of salmon and other
fishes have forced many indigenous groups to change their thousands-year-old habits as they
are forced to look for new sources of livelihood.

How Scientists and Governments are Recruiting Representatives of Indigenous Groups to

Help in Fish Management

Traditional knowledge held by indigenous people includes knowledge, practices, and
innovations that indigenous communities have about fisheries management. Such knowledge
is important in fisheries management because it is adopted to local environment and culture
and has stood the test of time. Realizing the importance of such knowledge, various scientists
and governments are incorporating it to the management of fisheries. For instance, in 2006,
Australia’s Fisheries Resource and Development Corporation started the Co-management
Initiative Project which sought to incorporate aboriginal traditional knowledge in fisheries
management through having representatives of aboriginal groups in fisheries management
(Nursey-Bray, Fidelman & Owusu, 2018). Australia’s lead has been followed by many
governments, particularly in North America, Central and South America, and Asia.

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References

Bailey, K. (2015, January 3). Sustainable fishing: sockeye salmon and Native American nets
in the Pacific Northwest. Ecologist. https://theecologist.org/2015/jan/03/sustainable-
fishing-sockeye-salmon-and-native-american-nets-pacific-northwest

Nursey-Bray, M., Fidelman, P., & Owusu, M. (2018). Does co-management facilitate
adaptive capacity in times of environmental change? Insights from fisheries in
Australia. Marine Policy, 96, 72-80.

Sherman, E. (2020, October 2). Indigenous fishing rights in the Pacific Northwest are under
attack. Matador Network. https://matadornetwork.com/read/indigenous-fishing-rights-
pacific-northwest/

Smithsonian (2018). Native Knowledge 360⁰: Pacific Coast Region. National Museum of
the American Indian. https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/pnw-history-culture-
regions/pacific-coast