Co-organised by Interreg Nord Summer Whitefish and Snowchange Cooperative, the Festival of Northern Fishing Traditions has wrapped up successfully in Tornio, Finland. Over 150 small-scale and Indigenous fishermen around the world joined forces to discuss climate change, traditional knowledge, governance and direct exchanges on common challenges.
As reported by for example Gaia Foundation, Northern Forum and Low Impact Fishermen of Europe, the event specifically addressed the need for recognition of traditional ecological knowledge and voices of the small-scale and Indigenous fishermen in governance, monitoring and management of fish stocks globally.
Over 20 participants took part in a field trip to Skolt Sami area, where co-management project leader Pauliina Feodoroff and restoration specialist Janne Raassina guided the guests to the Vainosjoki restoration. Juha, Vladimir and Veikko Feodoroff took the guests for whitefish on lake Sevettjarvi.
Meanwhile in Tornio and EU workshop was under way - CHERISH project brought together eight EU regions to discuss the cultural heritage of fisheries with field trips out to Perameri National Park and island of Selkasarvi. Mats Innala demonstrated the push-up fishtraps for whitefish.
Festival itself contained a seminar day with all regions presenting on friday. On saturday participants went dip netting for whitefish and seining on river Tornio, as can be seen on this video.
Cultural, artenasal and Indigenous fisheries are the lifeline for food security, climate survival and traditional knowledge globally.
The festival sent a strong message that a reform is needed if we are to survive the 21st century challenges faced by these communities. 2020 Festival will continue building on this in Khanty-Mansia, Siberia.
The Festival was made possible by generous support of the participating fishing communities, Snowchange Cooperative, Interref Summer Whitefish, CHERISH Interreg Europe NEFCO, Nordic Council of Ministers, Gaia Foundation, the Northern Forum and many other donors and supporters! Heartfelt thank you to you all!
