Blue Economy in the Arctic – Legacies, changes and coastal communities survival
Video recording of the event
Summary:
Across the circumpolar Arctic, fisheries have for centuries been part of subsistence and later on more as commercialized activities. Life at sea and life from the sea is intertwined with the fate of many Northern households. Fish from the sea, lakes or streams have also made up an important nutrition source to secure existence for centuries. Many coastal communities have seen dramatic changes in the last two-three decades, often triggered by more restrictive fishery management regimes and climate change to mention few. The maritime activities do not necessarily make up the mainstay in all coastal communities anymore, but in other settlements they are the life-nerve of the community. Blue Economy is a concept that in the recent decade has emerged in numerous publications replacing the conventional concept on the maritime sector. It holds a promise of a broader view of a range of activities based on intelligent and sustainable use of bioresources, use of novel bioresources and creation of higher value products including food, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and various chemical compounds. We will discuss this in relation to responsible use of renewable biological resources from the water and how these practices manifest historically, currently and for the future.
This roundtable aims to discuss sea and lake-based resource extraction in the Arctic with a particular focus on changes related to climate change and diversification of activities. It also aims to reflect on cosmology of Indigenous Peoples’ approaches to connections between land and sea and local coastal communities as well as changed perceptions to what fisheries and other maritime activities encompass.
Discussion questions:
- Can you talk briefly about your research and/or practice, and explain how issues of blue economy and its impacts on coastal communities' manifest in your work?
- Which type of changes have you noticed when it comes to re-conceptualizing fisheries and other resource extractions from the sea, lakes and streams where you have done your research?
- Based on your research and/or practice, what are the main issues and challenges related to blue economy and maritime activities?
- What are the implications of the issues and challenges you have identified in relation to Indigenous and local coastal communities’ knowledge, and knowledge mobilization in the Arctic region?
Facilitator:
Karen Everett, Université Laval
Panel members:
Davin Holen, Alaska Sea Grant and University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Claudio Aporta, Professor, Canada Chair, World Maritime University
Rikke Becker Jacobsen, Associate Professor, Centre for Blue Governance, Aalborg University
Anna Karlsdóttir, Associate Professor, University of Iceland and former Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio
Organization:
Anna Karlsdóttir, Associate Professor, University of Iceland and former Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio
Gail Fondahl, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada
Karen Everett, Université Laval, Canada
Simultaneous translation in English and in French available.
Please note this event will be recorded and shared on Youtube
*If you have not received an invitation with the Zoom link by e-mail, please fill out the form and we will send it to you : WAGE Roundtable - Registration.
For any other question, you can contact us at info.wage@ulaval.ca.
