Salmon, Science, and Reciprocity on the Northwest Coast
Severe depletion of many genetically distinct Pacific salmon populations has spawned a contentious debate over causation and the efficacy of proposed solutions. No doubt the precipitating factor was overharvesting of the commons beginning along the Northwest Coast around 1860. Yet, for millenia befo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Resilience Alliance
2009-12-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Society |
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| Online Access: | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art43/ |
| _version_ | 1818825049763741696 |
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| author | D. Bruce Johnsen |
| author_facet | D. Bruce Johnsen |
| author_sort | D. Bruce Johnsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Severe depletion of many genetically distinct Pacific salmon populations has spawned a contentious debate over causation and the efficacy of proposed solutions. No doubt the precipitating factor was overharvesting of the commons beginning along the Northwest Coast around 1860. Yet, for millenia before that, a relatively dense population of Indian tribes managed salmon stocks that have since been characterized as "superabundant." This study investigates how they avoided a tragedy of the commons, where in recent history, commercial ocean fishers guided by scientifically informed regulators, have repeatedly failed. Unlike commercial fishers, the tribes enjoyed exclusive rights to terminal fisheries enforced through rigorous reciprocity relations. The available evidence is compelling that they actively husbanded their salmon stocks for sustained abundance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:05:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-485986dab65a4761b90ff0080a7707cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1708-3087 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:05:35Z |
| publishDate | 2009-12-01 |
| publisher | Resilience Alliance |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-485986dab65a4761b90ff0080a7707cb2022-12-21T20:46:14ZengResilience AllianceEcology and Society1708-30872009-12-011424310.5751/ES-03107-1402433107Salmon, Science, and Reciprocity on the Northwest CoastD. Bruce Johnsen0George Mason UniversitySevere depletion of many genetically distinct Pacific salmon populations has spawned a contentious debate over causation and the efficacy of proposed solutions. No doubt the precipitating factor was overharvesting of the commons beginning along the Northwest Coast around 1860. Yet, for millenia before that, a relatively dense population of Indian tribes managed salmon stocks that have since been characterized as "superabundant." This study investigates how they avoided a tragedy of the commons, where in recent history, commercial ocean fishers guided by scientifically informed regulators, have repeatedly failed. Unlike commercial fishers, the tribes enjoyed exclusive rights to terminal fisheries enforced through rigorous reciprocity relations. The available evidence is compelling that they actively husbanded their salmon stocks for sustained abundance.http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art43/exclusive tribal rightsinformation feedbackpotlatchingreciprocityresiliencesalmon husbandry |
| spellingShingle | D. Bruce Johnsen Salmon, Science, and Reciprocity on the Northwest Coast Ecology and Society exclusive tribal rights information feedback potlatching reciprocity resilience salmon husbandry |
| title | Salmon, Science, and Reciprocity on the Northwest Coast |
| title_full | Salmon, Science, and Reciprocity on the Northwest Coast |
| title_fullStr | Salmon, Science, and Reciprocity on the Northwest Coast |
| title_full_unstemmed | Salmon, Science, and Reciprocity on the Northwest Coast |
| title_short | Salmon, Science, and Reciprocity on the Northwest Coast |
| title_sort | salmon science and reciprocity on the northwest coast |
| topic | exclusive tribal rights information feedback potlatching reciprocity resilience salmon husbandry |
| url | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art43/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dbrucejohnsen salmonscienceandreciprocityonthenorthwestcoast |