2,000-year-old sustainable fishing practices of Tsleil-Waututh Nation

The Science Daily site has published an interesting article. Simon Fraser University archaeology researchers found that thousands of years ago, the Coast Salish people were making fishery management decisions we’d do well to emulate.

Ancient Indigenous fishing practices can be used to inform sustainable management and conservation today, according to a new study. Working with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and using new palaeogenetic analytical techniques, the results of a new study provides strong evidence that prior to European colonization, Coast Salish people were managing chum salmon by selectively harvesting males.

Our present efficiency at catching any and all marine creatures has made fishery management even more challenging. But what a smart way to manage a terminal fishery.