Impacts of Pink Salmon on the Social-Ecological System: The Tana River Community Survey

Abstract

Invasive alien species are major drivers of change in social-ecological systems in the world, causing changes not only in ecosystems but also affecting human systems and ecosystem services. In recent years, the Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) have invaded Norwegian rivers in numbers of thousands, increasing the concerns among managers regarding the impact on Norwegian ecosystems and biodiversity. Pink salmon as an invasive species has the potential to cause serious changes for both people and nature within the social-ecological system. Exploring insights from the community closest to these changes is essential for a complete understanding of this footprint. This study, based on an online survey in the Tana River community in Northern Norway, has collected knowledge and opinions of people in the community regarding impacts of pink salmon in the large Tana River and pink salmon management. Using a systems thinking approach, methods of visualizing the respondents’ answers in a cognitive map, and applying the concept of social-ecological systems, this work showcases nuanced concerns related to how pink salmon and pink salmon management may impact both ecosystems and human systems in the Tana River social-ecological system. The survey responses reveal concerns related to how Atlantic salmon may be negatively affected by the invasion of pink salmon, such as increased. competition for resources and spawning grounds, and how this can cause cascading effect on the human systems, considering the importance of the Atlantic salmon for cultures and human well-being along the Tana River. In contrast, the results also show how the respondents think of pink salmon as a possible food source, further underscoring the multifaceted impact of this invasive species on the social ecological system. The study demonstrates involvement of communities and system thinking can create a more holistic understanding of the complexity regarding invasive species impacting social-ecological systems. Future studies and management are therefore encouraged to engage the local communities and promote system thinking when addressing the impacts of pink salmon and pink salmon management in the Tana River and Norway in general.

Keywords:

Invasive alien species, pink salmon, social-ecological system, system thinking, citizen science, cognitive mapping