Recovering diversity in salmon populations and cultures of fishing: the subarctic River Teno basin as a confluence and a Living Lab (RecoSal)

Fishing has been a central part of the culture, identity and life of the inhabitants of the Teno River for centuries. Salmon are also important for the region's economy and for the leisure and tourism sectors. Salmon stocks in the Teno River have been exceptionally weak in recent years. In 2021, a joint decision between Finland and Norway banned salmon fishing in the main Teno estuary and in the tributaries of the Teno River where salmon rise. The ban on salmon fishing has had numerous economic, cultural, social and health impacts.

The RecoSal project, funded by the EU Biodiversa+ programme, is generating multidisciplinary and interactive scientific advice for sustainable, adaptive and restorative salmon stock management. The project is carried out in collaboration with Luke, the Universities of Tromsø and Umeå and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA).

The project, led by Luke's Research Professor Jaakko Erkinaro, will develop methods to assess the status of salmon stocks in the Teno River and explore the possibilities of integrating traditional and local knowledge with biological monitoring data to improve salmon stock assessments. The project will also examine the use of local data to refine river-specific spawning stock targets. 

Local people and holders of traditional knowledge will play a key role in the development work and will be consulted in discussions and workshops to find solutions. A joint "Teno Salmon Forum" (Living lab) will be set up with local actors, where Finnish and Norwegian residents, scientists and government representatives will exchange information and engage in an open, experience-based discussion on the actions needed to rebuild salmon stocks and fisheries to enable positive development. The development work will reconcile the needs of local fishing culture, tourist fishing and related industries, and other uses of the river basin.

Photo: Ari Savikko