Local knowledge, social identity and conflicts around traditional marine salmon fisheries – A case from Mid‐Norway

• Published in: Fisheries Management and Ecology
• Main Authors: Dyrset, Guri, Margaryan, Lusine, Stensland, Stian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Mittuniversitetet, Institutionen för ekonomi, geografi, juridik och turism 2022
• Subjects: coastal heritage; cultural and biological diversity; local ecological knowledge; salmon; small- scale fisheries; social identity; traditions; Environmental Sciences; Miljövetenskap; Norway; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-43801; https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.12522

Natural and cultural diversity is gaining wider global recognition as the key to sustainable development. This article looks at the challenges of conserving marine biocultural diversity by investigating the unique heritage of marine salmon fisheries througha case study of a small group of marine fisheries in Norway, still fishing for Atlanticsalmon Salmo salar L. Tight relationships between declining natural resources anddaily struggles to keep cultural heritage alive are highlighted through theoretical perspectives of social identity and local ecological knowledge. The theoretical lens ofsocial identity contributes to better understanding tensions between scientific andlocal knowledge by bringing forward social categorisation, polarisation and power relations as drivers of conflicts. Involvement of local communities and respect for theircultural heritage, knowledge and practices can assist in more effective managementand governance of multifunctional biocultural landscapes, and contribute to their resilience and adaptability.