Session co-organizers: Kristen Lowitt, Mount Allison University & Charles Levkoe, Lakehead University Small-scale fisheries make vital contributions to conservation, health, livelihoods, and the cultural identities of... [ view full abstract ]
Session co-organizers: Kristen Lowitt, Mount Allison University & Charles Levkoe, Lakehead University
Small-scale fisheries make vital contributions to conservation, health, livelihoods, and the cultural identities of people across the globe. Despite these social and ecological complexities, fisheries are often treated as a resource to be managed for the purpose of efficiency and economic profit (Berkes, 2010). Increasingly, local communities are resisting prevailing approaches that treat fish as a commodity by engaging in efforts to (re)envision “fish as food.” This session will present a series of place-based experiences that demonstrate ways of using food systems as an organizing concept to protect small-scale fisheries, build sustainable communities and impact fisheries policy by exploring the food-related values that surround fisheries in local communities; the strategies communities are using to support enhanced access to local fish as a part of community-based food systems; and the interactions among food security, livelihoods, and conservation goals in particular settings. Insights will be shared from L'sitkuk (Bear River First Nation, Nova Scotia), Lockeport and Sandy Point, Nova Scotia, Kakisa and Deline, Northwest Territories, and two Indigenous communities from Lake Huron and Lake Superior Ultimately, the session aims to foster community capacity through sharing experiences, while offering new insights into community conservation and livelihoods.
Format:
The session will begin with five short presentations sharing local experiences from small-scale fisheries using a sustainable, community-based food systems approach. This will be followed by a moderated interactive discussion with the presenters and the audience.
Presentation themes:
Indigenous perspectives on small-scale fisheries and food sovereignty: Sherry Pictou, Mount Saint Vincent University
Sustainable seafood, conservation and livelihoods in Atlantic Canada communities: Ecology Action Centre (EAC). Two presenters from the EAC are attending our session: a) Satya Ramen and Colleen Turlo
How communities in the Northwest Territories are adapting to the impacts of climate change on fisheries by combining science and traditional knowledge: Andrew Spring, Wilfrid Laurier University
Batchewana First Nation’s traditional fisheries: Chief Dean Sayers, Batchewana First Nation
References:
Berkes, F (2010). Shifting perspectives on resource management: Resilience and the reconceptualization of ‘natural resources’ and ‘management.’ MAST 9(1) 13-40.
Ecosystem: Coastal , Resources: Fish , Big Issues: Human-wellbeing , Big Issues: Indigenous peoples , Solutions: Governance/Management
