Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic: Perspectives from the Barents Area

171

Chapter 7 · Indigenous peoples’ perspectives

Box 7.1 Sea Sámi insights and perspectives in Norway First person view by Beaska Niillas, a member of the Sámi Parliament from Hillágurra in Tana. He is President of the Sámi Association of Norway (NSR) and vice leader of the NSR parliamentary group.

With the introduction of fish farming (salmon) in the north of Norway in the 1980s, salmon prices fell dramatically.This had a great impact on those who fished salmon in the fjord during spring/summer for part of their income, mainly the small communities along the fjords (Várjjat and Deatnu). During the same period the fjord salmon fishermen faced considerable reductions and limitations to their fishing through regulations: fewer days to fish, restrictions on equipment and a difficult process to apply for fishing places.These same communities in the 1960s and 1970s were offered fraflytningstilskudd ,a financial encouragement tomove out of the small villages and resettle in the coastal towns, which resulted in many abandoned villages along the coast. All the above factors have made recruitment to fjord salmon fishing very challenging. Today the broader market cannot tell the difference between wild and farmed salmon. Fishermen cannot compete on price with the farmed fish.The fish farming is a business that faces accidents from time to time and fish escape from their farming nets and genealogical mixing with the wild salmon has already been reported.A real concern for the future is if there will still be such a thing as wild North Atlantic salmon, or will it be some kind of genetic mix. Fish farming also has considerable local effects from their parasites and effluent and also on the local stocks of other fish, which becomes accustomed to large amounts of artificial feed.

We have already observed physical changes such as warmer waters and stronger winds,perhaps due to changes in prevalent wind directions from the east towards the west/southwest. In the fjords of eastern Finnmark,mackerel have been appearing over the last couple of years.While fun for kids to fish, those depending on fishing for a living are very concerned saying“the high number of mackerel are a threat and it eats everything, it does not belong naturally in our waters”. The small boat coastal fishing fleet represents a great system of value production in the fjords where they operate, while contributing little to emission releases.However,this small boat economy is more vulnerable to change. Under pressure, more chances with weather and distance are taken, which is risky with only one crew aboard – this is already themost dangerous workplace in Norway. Being a fisherman is a lifestyle with a lot of freedom, and a great deal of responsibility, but also risk. Conflict over space is seen as a great concern in the fjords. Primarily this is connected to municipal spatial planning and the desire to create new employment opportunities. Fish farmers want to place their pens in areas with stronger currents to clear away the waste more efficiently, yet they need the protection a fjord can offer. These areas are also the best areas for fishing. Fishermen feel they need to be ever more engaged in the planning process and be proactive towards the municipality more than they feel they have time for, simply to protect their livelihood.

Coastal Sámi Resource Centre

Salmon fisherman in Porsanger, Norway