Sámi Coastal Fishing Rights: Knowledge, Rights and Collective Action

Sámi fishing rights and coastal communities

The gathering was organised by Porsáŋggu sámiid searvi, Mearrasiida, Bivdu and Sjøsamisk Tun, with support from the Sámi Parliament.

The event brought together researchers, communities and organisations for a day of presentations, knowledge sharing and dialogue on Sámi coastal fishing rights, with a focus on historical rights advocacy, the current legal framework and future challenges.

Fishing has long been an important part of birgejupmi, the livelihoods, culture and social life of Sámi coastal communities. Questions concerning access to marine resources are therefore closely connected to broader issues of Indigenous rights, cultural continuity and self-determination.

Discussing fishing rights is not only about legal frameworks. It is also about the knowledge and practices that have developed through generations of relationships with the sea, coastal landscapes and local communities.

Gatherings such as this provide an opportunity to bring these different dimensions together: legal and political questions, local knowledge, community experiences and the perspectives of organisations working to strengthen Sámi rights.

We are particularly pleased to see Mearrasiida, one of the BIRGEJUPMI project members, taking an active role as a co-organiser of the gathering.

From knowledge to action

One of the most important aspects of the gathering was its focus on making the meeting both informative and action-oriented.

Questions about rights and resource management can be complex, but collective organisation creates opportunities to turn knowledge and experience into concrete engagement. By bringing people and organisations together, such meetings can contribute to building networks, strengthening knowledge and supporting continued work for Sámi coastal rights.

We look forward to following the discussions emerging from the gathering and sharing more from the event and its participants.