Rising Water Temperatures and Climate Change Endanger Indigenous Spearfishing and Cultural Heritage
Introduction
The Ojibwe people are an Indigenous group that live in northeastern North America along the Atlantic Ocean’s shoreline.
They occupy land surrounding the Great Lakes. Walleye are freshwater gamefish that are commonly fished for and eaten by the Ojibwe people. This article covers the effects of climate change on the walleye population and how that hurts Native peoples’ traditions.
As climate change continues to cause drastic ecological changes on Earth, Native Alaskans are facing a never-before-seen decline in walleye populations.
The Ojibwe group found that as local lake waters continue to warm, their tradition of spearfishing suffers due to a lack of natural resources. The group has a long-standing history of defending their Indigenous fishing practices from racism, as well as weathering bad policy at the hands of the Wisconsin state government.
The Impact of Warming Waters on Walleye
However, the problem has been well-documented since 2021. Warming waters affect the manner in which adult walleye reproduce. In fact, it only takes a marginal increase in freshwater lake warming to push the fish outside of the satisfactory range of temperature needed for successful reproduction. The state of Wisconsin occupies the warmest end of the spectrum for walleye breeding, so there is not any additional room for water-warming.
This hits the indigenous communities of Wisconsin close to their hearts because walleye are often caught by the tribes on Lake Superior Ojibwe. The Ojibwe people eat large quantities of walleye every year, which represents their familial customs.
The fish are caught, then carefully gutted and descaled, and then they are transported by tribe members to family friends. In turn, the elders pass down invaluable knowledge about the ecology of the lakes, as well as their own personal stories and folktales.
Indigenous-Led Conservation Efforts
Furthermore, Native tribes are at the forefront of adapting to climate change’s adverse effects on walleye fishing. The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) uses various measurement practices to dictate their fishing practices to prevent overfishing via data analysis. The Native fisheries use adult wall-eye population assessments.
First, the fish are captured, sexed, measured, tagged, and then released back into the lake. Next, a recapture survey is performed and the fishery crews assess a ratio that reports to the estimate of the total walleye in the lake. A similar exercise is performed on juvenile fish to determine similar results.
How to Help Protect Walleye Populations
Luckily, a lot is being done to protect natural walleye populations. Walleye protection has several different components, including:
keeping the lake clean of excessive biological nutrients to keep oxygen levels for the fish high
making ethical decisions about how many fish to catch and where
investing in watershed protection.
Additional ways you can help fish populations are by fighting global warming. Walleyes thrive in cool, oxygenated waters.
How to fight:
Avoid littering around lakes and large bodies of water where the walleye live
Follow The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) guidelines for fishing
Respect indigenous folks and the rules on their land.
Be aware of carbon runoff from nearby farms and reduce heavy chemical usage near large bodies of water
Use professional equipment, and do routine maintenance on your boat if you own one
In short, preventative measures are being taken to protect the walleye populations so that Indigenous communities may continue their important practices.
Conclusion
By implementing these conservation measures, Indigenous communities can continue their vital traditions, and walleye populations can be preserved for future generations. Climate change presents a serious threat, but through collaborative efforts, we can help protect both the environment and the cultural heritage of the Ojibwe people.
Author: Clarrisa Oakes
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We should all do more for Mother Earth, or we will be orphaned in a few years
Very nice and interesting article Clarissa!
The topic of climate change should be imperative for all of us!
That is the fight that has to be won.
Regards!
Teo