For hundreds of years the ability to use and continue to use has been the motive behind conservation. Hunters, anglers (who until recently killed what they caught), farmers, ranchers, even loggers concerned themselves with their resources, their interests, their livelihoods. Today it's rare to see an environmental organization, such as the Sierra Club, ally with Ducks Unlimited, or Colorado Cattleman's Association, but now and then it does happen. (TU is more of a "green group" when it comes to use.) Green groups , NRDC, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, Alaska Wilderness League, have their ideological anchor fast in the rocks of righteousness - I mean no harm, however, time and again it would behoove those groups to partner with Pheasants Unlimited to help save the Greater Sage Grouse from being listed as Endangered, or to back the RESTORE Act and give millions of dollars to rehabilitating gulf estuaries and coastlines (despite 35% going to 5 shitty Governors who hate clean water). It's great that they throw their weight behind national causes such as Keystone XL, Pebble Mine, National Monuments, student activism, but teamwork, even in compromise, lightens the load.
These middle-ground platforms are not unheard of in conservation; they've been around for decades. Conservation was a republican ideal, Theodore Roosevelt, designator of the Grand Canyon, hunted around the world, Ducks Unlimited actually likes ducks, and now Patagonia has established another middle-ground, use-based platform this time for salmon production. As they've done with clothing, they hope to take a big enough share of the market, by selling to smart and caring consumers, to pressure other manufacturers to adopt some of their ideals and practices. This is conservation based in use.
Saving Salmon by Eating Them
08 November 2011
An Entirely Synthetic Fish
A tremendous undertaking by Anders has resulted in a tremendous read and transfer of knowledge. This book details the history, politics, biology and chance that have established the Rainbow Trout as the premier catch around the world, with the Rocky Mountain west as it's epicenter. The likes of only corn and livestock have benefited so much from human involvement in their biology, and whether it's for the better has yet to be determined.
This book puts into perspective a seemingly simply activity as an immense layer-cake of reason, ignorance, zeal, and happenstance. It is well worth your time off the water. You are less ignorant and perhaps less blissful after.
Conrad and I managed to find two days and a night to get out and do some kayaking. There are an infinite number of places to kayak around the Kenai Peninsula. We drove down to Homer on a sunday, spent the night in the trailer, and packed some bags for a one-night paddle.
The Homer Spit extends south - Tutka Bay is just out of sight to the west
Monday morning we met a water taxi at one of the Homer docks. He gave us two kayaks and a lift across Kachemak Bay to the mouth of Tutka Bay. We designated a time and location for pick up and were left to ourselves and our desires.
Just before we depart Kayak beach
From our drop point at Kayak beach at the mouth of the bay we paddled south with the incoming tide. The wind was at our back and the sun was out as we stayed close to the northeast shore. It's possible to see harbor seals, otters, and even whales in the bay. Sea birds and eagles are everywhere and break the silence. As we paddled south we passed a lot of private properties on the shore. Most of them were simple cabins or fish camps. The water around Homer is full of Halibut, which supports much of the economy.
An otter got curious and quite close
Tutka Bay Lagoon has shallow waters and is only accessible at high tide
About half way down the bay we crossed and entered the Tutka Bay Lagoon. Only accessible at high tide, the lagoon has been used as a fish hatchery. The brackish water makes a perfect environment for raising salmon. We paddled up to the hatchery and two guys came out. One was a fatherly figure, mid 50's, and the other was a college age kid who's not in college. They were living together and managing the hatchery and seemed eager to have someone else to talk to. They were raising 280,000 Sockeye Salmon for release in early June. In a few years when the salmon return fully grown they will be netted off-shore and find their way to dinner plates around the country as Alaska wild salmon.
We watched this Bald Eagle for hours - it's nest was just out of site to the right
Looking south towards our campsite and the head of the bay
Looking south towards the head of the bay from our campsite
From the lagoon we continued south to about mile 8. There is a little isthmus on the southwest side of the bay with a beautiful campsite. We made camp, cooked pasta for dinner, lay a few cloths out to dry and settled down to read. As the sun doesn't set now until 23:30 or so, we just messed around camp, not sure we'd be able to sleep if we got in the tent. Of course we slept without a problem and woke to rain and howling winds. It took us the better part of the morning to eat breakfast and find the motivation to get back into our boats. We did, and heading into the wind and the chop, we hugged the shore for the last two miles until we got to the head of the bay.
Our campsite on a bed of moss
With the hard part of the day over we turned back to the north and let the chop and wind take us to our pick-up. We were there hours early but happy to build a fire and wait for our ride. A nice excursion, to be sure.
