ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ethnoichthyology

Ethnoichthyology is a fancy word that means studying how people from different cultures and communities use and interact with fish.

Imagine fishes as your animal friends who live in the water. They are important to many people in different ways. Some people rely on them for food, some people use them for medicinal purposes, and some people even have cultural traditions and beliefs around certain types of fish.

Ethnoichthyologists learn about these different relationships between people and fish. They talk to different communities and learn about their fishing practices and beliefs about fish. They might also study how people use different parts of the fish, such as the skin, bones, and flesh.

By studying ethnoichthyology, scientists can better understand the cultural and ecological importance of fish and hopefully help promote sustainable fishing practices that respect and preserve these relationships.