Indigenous resurgence in the Blue Economy: Relational values to guide kelp mariculture

Abstract

Decisions about how to use ocean spaces are increasingly attuned to issues of social equity, environmental sustainability and climate resilience, yet often bypass local governance, knowledge, values and thus objectives. To inform future decisions about kelp harvest and mariculture activities on the west coast of Canada, we co-designed research questions and methods with the Kwakiutl Nation to co-produce a social-ecological decision space. Specifically, we documented ancestral Kwakiutl governance principles that guide human–kelp relationships, quantified contemporary community values of kelp and envisioned future kelp management actions that would support social-ecological system resilience. We found that Kwakiutl governance principles of respect, reciprocity, ‘we are all one’ and responsibility are foundational to human–kelp relationships. Moreover, the Kwakiutl valued kelp for its relational and indirect uses, such as it being present for future generations and part of a healthy ocean, more than the direct use of kelp as income. Strategic management actions, including the resurgence of Kwakiutl harvest practices and knowledge, were identified as ways to support future climate resilient kelp harvest and mariculture. While there is interest in developing nation-owned kelp mariculture operations to participate in the burgeoning ‘Blue Economy’, financial gain is less important than sustaining wild kelp forests and re-establishing human–kelp relationships within the Kwakiutl community. These results emphasize that, within the Kwakiutl Nation, non-economic values guide the decision-making space surrounding emerging kelp industries. As countries worldwide develop Blue Economy policies, they can prioritize equitable governance and social-ecological sustainability by guiding place-based management with local values, knowledge and governance principles. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.