Inuvialuit knowledge of Pacific salmon range expansion in the western Canadian Arctic

Rapid climate change is altering Arctic ecosystems and significantly affecting the livelihoods and cultural traditions of Arctic Indigenous peoples. In the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), growing evidence suggests that climate change is altering marine environments. In this project we recorded and synthesized Inuvialuit knowledge of Pacific salmon. We used methods that are emergent in fisheries science to combine interview information with voluntary harvest data and better understand changes to salmon in the Arctic. We conducted 53 interviews with Inuvialuit fishers about the history of Pacific salmon harvest, how it has changed in recent decades, and concurrent changes to local environments and fish species. Our interviews show that historical, incidental salmon harvest in the ISR ranged from infrequent to common among western communities, but was rare or unprecedented among eastern communities. Participants in all six communities reported a recent increase in salmon harvest and attributed this shift to regional environmental change. Fishers were concerned that salmon would negatively affect their cultural traditions and preferred fish species. Given uncertainty about the effects of salmon on local fisheries, research on salmon in the Arctic, the likelihood of their establishment, and their potential to provide subsidies to Arctic freshwater ecosystems is vital.

Automated summary

Rapid climate change is significantly impacting Arctic ecosystems and the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples. This project examines the effects of climate change on Pacific salmon in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Using interviews and voluntary harvest data, researchers found an increase in salmon harvest in recent years attributed to regional environmental change. Concerns were raised about the negative impacts of salmon on cultural traditions and preferred fish species. This study emphasizes the importance of researching Arctic salmon and their potential influence on freshwater ecosystems.