Invasive Crustaceans in the Arctic:On the verge of ecological and socio-economic transformations in Northern Finnmark

• Main Authors: Kourantidou , Melina, Kaiser, Brooks
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: Arctic Frontiers 2018
• Subjects: Arctic; Finnmark; Northern Norway; Red king crab
• Online Access: https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/da/publications/d272c8ce-9be8-40cd-b8f1-40d2b1a6a461; https://www.arcticfrontiers.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2018/Arctic%20Frontiers%20Science/Abstract%20book%202018.pdf

The introduction and establishment of invasive species in Arctic ecosystems is a key component of environmental change that has drawn the attention of both resource managers and stakeholders in the Arctic in recent years. Invasive species often enter human preferences in both positive and negative ways. The Red King Crab invasion in Northern Norway has already gained a significant foothold and has been commercially exploited since the early 2000’s. The introduced crab has acted as a noteworthy driver of change in the ecosystem as well as in the socioeconomic landscape of Northern Finnmark. The flourishing and now firmly established crab fishery, coupled with the uncertain ecological impacts from the invasion, make the current management policy in Norway contentious, since the crab is viewed as an asset by some and as a liability by others. The political desire and willingness to support local coastal communities and livelihoods in the Arctic provides significant impetus for maintaining a long-term stock in Eastern Finnmark. Increasing capital investments in the fishery, as well as in crab processing plants across Finnmark, are pressuring regulators to support the upcoming industry through institutional and governance structures that promote economic stability in the long-run. We highlight the role of environmental economic and bioeconomic tools in identifying suitable compromises among different stakeholders with interests at odds. Identification and management of the introduced species in a socially optimal fashion requires reconciliation of contrasting views on the invasion. To that end, we analyze how environmental- and bio-economics can create common understanding of the tradeoffs inherent in the ecological features of the invasion and market characteristics of Finnmark’s transitioning fisheries industries. This common understanding can provide both the information and the incentive structures needed to optimize the use of Arctic benthic natural resources in creating stable and prosperous communities in ...