Tag Archives: Herring in Norway

Animals, Indigenous Nations

In Sheet’ká, Łingít fishers share herring harvests with a surprise influx of grey whales

By Amy Romer, IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Growing up, Yanshkawoo (Harvey Kitka) never saw many grey whales in the waters of Sheet’ká Sound.

The Łingít (Tlingít) Elder and subsistence yaaw (herring) fisherman recalled harvesting gáax’w (herring eggs) in his territories before “Alaska” became a “U.S.” state in 1959. It was a time when yaaw were plentiful and sightings of whales were rare — just a handful at most.

“There was food everywhere,” mused Yanshkawoo, tracing a slow circle in the air with his hand — a gesture toward the abundance the ocean once held. He sat at a crowded café in Sheet’ká (Sitka), his voice calm but thoughtful.

“They had no reason to come into the Sound back then.” 

But things changed in 2019, when fishers, researchers and community members began noticing an influx of grey whales, an order of magnitude larger than in previous years.

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Rivers & Oceans

Study suggests a complete closure of fishing for some species

Fishing communities, like the one that once existed on Cortes Island, are becoming memories. The Cortes museum lists 28 independent fishing boats based at one of island’s docks during the 1970s. Twenty years ago, 5 were still returning to Mansons Landing. By 2016 this number had shrunk to 2 boats and neither of them fished Cortes waters. While this decline may partially reflect the shift towards large corporate fishing fleets, a new UBC study states a quarter of Canada’s fish stocks are in decline and the industry would benefit from a complete closure of fishing for some species. 

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Rivers & Oceans

Study Suggests Closing Fisheries for long term economic gain

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By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

At least a quarter of major fish stocks in Canada are in decline, but efforts to  rebuild them  — such as closing fisheries or setting catch limits — are  often met with strong opposition due to negative socioeconomic effects.  Now a new study by University of British Columbia researchers shows the  short-term financial pain can lead to long-term gain — and that pain can  be eased by providing fishers with social and economic assistance.

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