Traditional Ecological Knowledge of 20th-Century Ecosystems and Fish Populations in the Kuskokwim Bay Region Robbin LaVine Bristol Bay Native Association Mark J. Lisac U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Philippa Coiley-Kenner Alaska Department of Fish and Game Final Report Fisheries Resource Monitoring Program FIS 04–351 October 2007 Nondiscrimination statement The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management conducts all programs and activities free from discrimination on the basis of sex, color, race, religion, national ori- gin, age, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. For information on alternative formats available for this publication please contact the Office of Subsistence Management to make necessary arrangements. Any person who believes she or he has been discriminated against should write to: Office of Subsistence Management, 3601 C Street, Suite 1030, Anchor- age, Alaska 99503; or O.E.O., U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. Cover photo: The western side of the Ahklun mountain range; processed smelt; spawned-out sockeye salmon; and processing salmon. USFWS photos Photo credits: Unless otherwise stated, all photos contained in this report are from the USFWS, Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Anchorage Regional Offi ce, or Fairbanks Fisheries Offi ce fi le photos. Abstract Abstract This study documents traditional knowledge of six Yup’ik Eskimo elders of the lower Kus- kokwim Bay area currently residing in the villages of Quinhagak and Goodnews Bay. Infor- mants described their observations of the abundance and distribution of local anadromous and freshwater resident fish species over the past 88 years (1916 to 2004). The study focused on fish life history, migration, spawning, distribution, past and present subsistence activities, and long-term trends in subsistence fish populations in the lower Kuskokwim Bay drainages. Information was gathered on six species of Pacific salmon (including rainbow trout), Dolly Varden, Arctic char, lake trout, Alaska blackfish, burbot, northern pike, rainbow smelt, round whitefish, Bering cisco and Pacific herring. According to these six key respondents, the most important species for local subsistence harvest over the course of their lives were Chinook, sockeye, chum, and coho salmon, Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling, Alaska blackfish, rainbow smelt, and Bering cisco. Although much has changed over the course of the lives of these six people in regard to harvest technology, processing methods, and access to other goods and resources, the fish species that were valued and harvested 80 years ago are still consumed today. Citation: LaVine, R., M. J. Lisac and P. Coiley-Kenner. 2007. Traditional ecological knowledge of 20th century ecosystems and fish populations in the Kuskokwim Bay Region. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fisheries Resource Monitoring Program (Project no. FIS 04–351) Anchorage, Alaska. 1 Table of Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................................1 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................6 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................7 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................................10 Study Area ......................................................................................................................................................11 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................18 Evaluation of 2002 and 2003 Interview Data .............................................................................................18 Identification of Project Informants ............................................................................................................18 The Interview Process ...................................................................................................................................19 The Transcription Process ............................................................................................................................21 Data Analysis and Presentation ..................................................................................................................21 Contributing Elders ............................................................................................................................................23 Biographies of Participants ..........................................................................................................................24 Continuity and Change in the Seasonal Round of Subsistence Harvest and Fishing Activity Over Time (1916–2004) ................................................................................................................................................27 1916–1929 Bow and Arrows, Spears, Reindeer Herding and Dog Teams, Seasonal Camps, Fur Trade ................................................................................................................................................................28 1930–1954 Rifles, Fur Trade Continues, Reindeer Herds Disappear, Cannery Work, Mining, Outboard Motors, and Establishment of Permanent Year-Round Communities. ...............................31 1955–1979 Commercial Fishing, Effects of Statehood, ANCSA, Snowmachines, Regulations .......34 1980–2004 Elderhood, Outside Influence, Sports Fishing ....................................................................35 Species Descriptions .............................................................................................................................................37 Alaska Blackfish (Dallia pectoralis), Can’giiq ...............................................................................................37 Burbot (Lota lota), Atgiaq, Manignaq ............................................................................................................41 Northern Pike (Esox lucius), Cuukvak, Luqruuyak ......................................................................................43 Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma), Anerrluaq, Iqualuipik ............................................................................44 Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus), Yugyaq ......................................................................................................50 Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Cikignaq ..............................................................................................51 Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Talaariq .........................................................................................52 Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus), Culugpauk, Nakrulluqpak ...............................................................55 Round Whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum), Cauirrutnaq .........................................................................58 3 Least Cisco (Coregonus sardinella), Kassiaq ..................................................................................................59 Bering Cisco (Coregonus laurettae), Imarpinraq, Naptaq .............................................................................60 Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax), Iqalluaq ................................................................................................62 Capelin (Mallotus villosus), Cikaar ................................................................................................................65 Pacific Cod (Gadus macrocephalus), Manignaalleryak ..................................................................................65 Pacific Herring (Clupea harengus), Iqalluarpak ............................................................................................67 Pacific Salmon (Oncorhynchus species).........................................................................................................69 Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Taryaqvak .........................................................................70 Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), Sayak ............................................................................................73 Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), Kangitneq ...........................................................................................79 Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Qakiiyaq .........................................................................................81 Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), Amaqaayak ..................................................................................84 Changes in physical environment and climate ..............................................................................................87 Lakes, Ponds, Streams, and Sloughs ..........................................................................................................87 Spawning Areas .............................................................................................................................................87 Blackfish Habitat ...........................................................................................................................................87