ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses fishing as a way of life among the indigenous Khanty people who live in northwestern Siberia, in the context of this community's complaints against policies that regulate aquatic resources. It begins by examining the features of migratory fish in the Synia River and providing an overview of the community's fishing and culture as a way of life. The chapter considers local Khanty residents' reactions to the explanatory meeting about the proposed Synsko-Voikarskii zakaznik. It identifies two spheres of common resources. In particular, the federal and regional administration recognizes the river as a common resource and seeks to leave the land open for non-locals to use as an outdoor tourism attraction. The chapter aims to describe the role of freshwater fish resources for the Khanty by examining their fishing culture and exploring different beliefs regarding migratory fish as common resources between the Khanty and the administration.
