Herring and People of the North Pacific: Sustaining a Keystone Species

Herring and People of the North Pacific explores fishery development in Southeast Alaska from precontact Indigenous relationships to postcontact focus on herring products, revealing new findings about current herring stocks and their significance to intraspecies biodiversity conservation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 276 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2021
Publisher: University of Washington Press

Herring are essential for the productivity and well-being of marine ecosystems, and socio-ecologically, Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) stands out as one of the most significant fish species in the Northern Hemisphere. Throughout millennia, human reliance on herring has developed through interactions with crucial spawning areas, but human activities have also significantly influenced the distribution and abundance of this species.

Herring and People of the North Pacific delves into the historical, ethnological, archaeological, and political dimensions of fishery development in Southeast Alaska. By integrating comparative insights from other North Pacific cultures, the book explores the evolution of Indigenous relationships with herring, from precontact times to the postcontact emphasis on herring products. It uncovers fresh insights into current herring stocks and their importance in conserving intraspecies biodiversity. Furthermore, the book examines the role of traditional local knowledge, complemented by archaeological, historical, and biological data, in comprehending marine ecology and reviving herring populations to their former abundance.

This comprehensive work sheds light on the intricate interplay between humans, fisheries, and marine ecosystems, highlighting the significance of Pacific herring and its role in shaping the cultural and ecological landscape of the North Pacific region.

Weight: 382g
Dimension: 228 x 153 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295748290