Two science processes explore key Snowchange areas in detail. Puruvesi winter seining highlighted in a science paper and Näätämö Sámi co-management in review in a Nordic Council report – available below.
The practice of seine fishing for vendace (Coregonus albula) has continued as an unbroken tradition in Lake Puruvesi in eastern Finland since 1300 AD. While fishing methods have evolved, the fishery still relies heavily on the traditional knowledge of practitioners, which is passed along from generation to generation. Traditional knowledge of weather patterns, the fish themselves, and other components of the lake ecosystem have allowed fishers to maintain an economically viable fishery without depleting fish stocks.
Lake Puruvesi and its traditional seine fishery represent a stronghold of Finnish fishing culture and traditional ecological knowledge. In recent years, local observations by fishers have identified threats to the lake ecosystem and the fishery, including eutrophication, climate change-related threats to fish, and climate-related disruption of fishing practices. This paper explores the unique ecological, social, and economic characteristics that have allowed the fishery to remain sustainable. We discuss the role of traditional knowledge in maintaining the fishery and we use a socio-ecological framework to broadly assess the value of the fishery. We also consider threats facing the fish and fishery and discuss approaches taken by fishers to address those threats.
Paper available here.
Pauliina Feodoroff has led the co-management efforts in Näätämö for over a decade.
Multifunctional Ecosystem Restoration in the Nordic countries was a study by the Nordic Council of Ministers that investigated best practices of restoration in the region.
Urged by the complex ecological and socio-economic challenges in modern ecosystem restoration, the topic of this TemaNord publication is the processes of multifunctional ecosystem restoration.
The complexity and interrelatedness of ecosystem degradation drivers requires more than sector-specific policy development and action. Policies need to identify synergies and trade-offs between ecosystem restoration and societal challenges. They must be mutually supportive and not prioritise success within one domain at the expense of another. Solutions need to be multifunctional. This poses immense challenges on policy makers, administrations, as well as corporate and civil agents.
Nonetheless, this multidimensional lens is a sine qua non if we are to sustainably succeed in reversing current levels of degradation of ecosystems, and instead safeguard and restore our base for existence while accommodating and feeding the population growth of future generations.
The report is available here.