Hot out of the Can: New book spouts new look at fish-saving philosophy
Ecotrust
is an organization with a mission. It "is a non-profit organization
founded in Portland, Oregon in 1991 to foster the emergence of
a conservation economy in the coastal temperate rainforest region
of North America." They state their methods are to offer
tools and resources to conservation entrepreneurs who promote
positive change at the intersection of ecosystem restoration,
economic opportunity, and community vitality. One such tool has
recently been published in the form of a book called Salmon Nation,
People and Fish at the Edge.
The book contains a compilation of essays by authors involved
at various levels of the fishing industry. One article provides
a glimpse of aboriginal times, when entire communities fished
from nearby waters, collecting only what they needed for food,
celebrating what they caught and leaving the rest to contribute
to the cycle as Mother Nature intended. Still another presents
a graphic portrayal of the changing mechanics of modern commercial
fishing, with teams of fishermen straining against time to catch
so much, that they ignore the sound of "the fish drumming
themselves to death below our feet, the sound amplified by the
echo in the mostly empty (hold) space." It goes on to profile
small, individual pockets of citizens tackling the problem on
a personal level, gently placing newly-fertilized salmon eggs
in hand-built fresh water troughs.
The book contains a range of research and information, from the
"232 genetically unique groups of Pacific salmon and steelhead
(that) are known to have disappeared entirely," to the numerous
maps illustrating the Endangered Species Act status by species
as of October, 1999.
The paperback book is well presented, with full color cover, cut
just shy of the edges to simulate the label of a salmon can, and
colorful maps and illustrations by species, and clear illustrations
of fishing boats by type for us lay-readers.
What the book fails to do, in my opinion, is tell the reader the
next step. They have not given even basic e-mail addresses to
reach contributors for more details, nor lent a passionate call
to reader action, or even told us where we may buy the book for
ourselves: Lucy's Books in Astoria, with a suggested retail price
of $9.95 US.
It contains, though, a well-done "tasting" of the plight
of salmon in our time and is clearly worth reading.
LCB
Salmon Nation
Publisher: Ecotrust
Address: 1200 NW Naito Parkway, #470
Portland, Oregon 97209
Telephone: 503/227-6225
Community Steward: Doug Thompson
Telephone: 503/325-2073
E-mail: ecotrust@pacifier.com
Website: www.ecotrust.org
Hours: By appointment
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