Evaluating the Effects of Climate Change on Indigenous Marine Mammal Hunting in Northern and Western Alaska Using Traditional Knowledge

Abstract

Iñupiaq, Yup'ik, and Cup'ik hunters in 14 Alaska Native communities described a rapidly changing marine environment in qualitative traditional knowledge interviews conducted over the course of a decade with 110 individuals. Based on their observations, sea ice conditions are the most notable change, with later freeze-up, thinner and less reliable ice, and earlier and more rapid break-up. Marine mammal populations in northern and western Alaska have been affected by changes in the physical environment, with alterations to migratory timing and routes, distribution, abundance, health, and behavior. Despite these changes, marine mammal populations in the region remain generally healthy and abundant. For hunters, access is the biggest challenge posed by changing conditions. Sea ice is less safe for travel, particularly for more southerly communities, making hunting more dangerous or impossible. Rapid break-up has reduced the time available for hunting amid broken ice in spring, formerly a dependable and preferred season. Social change also affects the ways in which hunting patterns change. Increased industrial development, for example, can also alter marine mammal distribution and reduce hunting opportunity. Reduced use of animal skins for clothing and other purposes has reduced demand. More powerful and reliable engines make day trips easier, reducing the time spent camping. An essential component of adjustment and adaptation to changing conditions is the retention of traditional values and the acquisition of new information to supplement traditional knowledge. Our findings are consistent with, and add detail to, what is known from previous traditional knowledge and scientific studies. The ways in which hunters gather new information and incorporate it into their existing understanding of the marine environment deserves further attention, both as a means of monitoring change and as a key aspect of adaptation. While the changes to date have been largely manageable, future prospects are unclear, as the effects of climate change are expected to continue in the region, and ecological change may accelerate. Social and regulatory change will continue to play a role in fostering or constraining the ability of hunters to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Marine mammal ecology and health: finding common ground between conventional science and indigenous knowledge to track arctic ecosystem variability

“…Three insights emerged from the study, including: (1) tracking ice conditions along ice trails revealed clear interannual variability in the thickness of the shore-fast ice, (2) documenting trail building and hunting strategies demonstrated how the community responds to variability, and (3) developing CS information resources for the community facilitated interaction with hunters and demonstrated project relevance to environmental challenges facing the community. These insights provided a foundation for the development of a framework to quantify the impacts of loss of sea ice on safety of onice travel and operations across a range of difference icescapes and ice uses (Dammann et al 2018), which remain some of the biggest challenges for Alaska Native marine mammal hunters (Huntington et al 2017). Motivated by the need to forecast safe sea-ice conditions at operational timescales (<10 days), insights from CS-IK sea ice partnerships were included in exploring how IK fits into a forecaster toolbox to support useful sea-ice information products (Deemer et al 2018).…”

“…Huntington et al 2005, Berkes 2007, Gadamus 2013, ICC-Alaska 2015, Alessa et al 2016. For example, traditional knowledge interviews conducted over the past decade have provided a wealth of information on how marine mammal populations in northern and western Alaska have responded to biophysical changes in the environment (Huntington et al 2017). Although shifts were identified in distribution, abundance, migration, behavior and health, IK indicates that so far marine mammal populations in the region remain healthy and abundant despite changes in the coastal ecosystem.…”

“…Although shifts were identified in distribution, abundance, migration, behavior and health, IK indicates that so far marine mammal populations in the region remain healthy and abundant despite changes in the coastal ecosystem. Because climate change effects are expected to continue and possibly accelerate, it is important that the ways in which hunters gather and incorporate new information into their understanding of the marine environment receive further attention (Huntington et al 2017). Indeed, climate-related impacts to accessibility of traditional hunting opportunities are perceived as a critical challenge to the future resilience of the Arctic Indigenous life style (Brinkman et al 2016).…”

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“…The importance of indigenous knowledge has been emphasized in the context of Arctic and Alaskan climate change adaptation and fish and game management (Arruda & Krutkowski, 2017;Jos & Watson, 2016;Williams & Hardison, 2013;Chapin III, Folke, & Kofinas, 2009). Much of this research relates to using indigenous community knowledge to identify or expand on Western knowledge of environmental change and climate change impacts that contribute to vulnerability (Ignatowski & Rosales, 2013;Huntington, Quakenbush, & Nelson, 2017). Research on how indigenous knowledge has helped Arctic communities adapt to climate change impacts is generally limited to personal subsistence practices, i.e., monitoring subsistence resources, awareness of alternative resources, and knowing how to survive hazardous conditions (Berkes, Colding, & Folke, 2000;Berkes & Jolly, 2001;Pearce, Ford, Willox, & Smit, 2015).…”

Traditional Knowledge About Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) in East Greenland: Changes in the Catch and Climate Over Two Decades

“…Understanding the impact of decreased sea ice extent on polar bear condition, abundance and distribution is essential for their conservation and management. However, at the same time, it is important for management to understand the impact of sea ice loss on subsistence catches (e.g., Huntington et al, 2017) and the human communities that rely on polar bears as a resource. Our primary goal was to gather perspectives from active Inuit polar bear hunters on EG quotas, hunting strategies, and how climate change may be affecting the environment, polar bear distribution, abundance, and biology through time.…”