Catching Basking Ide, Leuciscus idus (L.), in the Baltic Sea

Fishing and Local Knowledge in the Finnish and Swedish Archipelagos

Abstract

Ide (Leuciscus idus (L.)) gathers in shallow bays in the Baltic archipelagos during warm summer days. Finnish, Estonian and Swedish islanders called this “basking” or “sunbathing.” The phenomenon was previously well known among fishermen, but it is very little researched. Local people caught the basking fish until some decades ago with special techniques, for example closing the bay with nets. Catching basking ide required observation, knowledge, attention and skill, but could provide a large catch when done properly. The method called for cooperation, but also divided the islanders according to fishing rights. The islanders’ observations and fishing techniques reflect a broad local ecological knowledge and the capability to utilise local resources from the environment. This historical and ethno-biological study investigates perceptions and traditional knowledge of basking ide, fishing techniques connected to ide and from a larger perspective, the interaction between humans and fish in the Baltic archipelagos.