Pool 32 Mag No. 2

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POOL 32 MAG

Contents Too many dead fish White Nights in Denmark Save Bristol Bay Paul Greenberg

Pool 32 Mag Nick Hall Bill Carter NRDC statements Erin Mckittrick Sportsman’s Alliance /Scott Hed Take action now

Mnemiopsis Leidyi Midfjardara / Iceland Beauty & Perfection Subcribe A click on

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The front page photo is shoot by Marie Wengler Check out her website at www.mariewengler.com

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Too many dead fish Dear Readers

Without no doubt a tuff life.

Welcome back to Pool 32 Mag. Our first issue is a reality and it’s been received absolutely fantastic. It has totally blown us away, and even in our wildest imagination we had never expected such a positive reaction. I therefore want to thank you all so much for your great and very kind support. Personally I have had the pleasure of many inspiring and very positive mail dialogues with fly fishing enthusiasts from all over the world. The first issue of Pool 32 was a difficult journey, and there was a couple of things I wasn’t hundred percent satisfied with, but I guess that’s just natural in every beginning. We still have a lot to learn, and we will of course do our best to improve every issue of Pool 32 Mag in the future.

We will of course continue to show you photo essays from great fishing destinations, but we will also, and this is very essential for us, support environmental issues worldwide. We have just experienced one the most significant environmental disasters in our oceans ever. It was extremely sad to watch and our thoughts goes to all those people who’s lives are influenced for generations ahead by the BP oil spill. We can only hope that this oil spill will lead to a greater environmental awareness politically in the future.

The only thing we were criticized for were the dead fish we showed in our first issue. It made me realize how used I have become, seeing people killing and keeping their catch, in my part of the world. I thought about this for a while, and came to the conclusion, that this critique were highly relevant. Therefore we will do our absolutely best to avoid showing too many dead fish in future issues, but in some situations it’s inevitably. Not that I want to sound like a holy C & R freak, but think about it. Salmon, which is most fly fishers favourite catch, truly have to fight hard just to survive. Mainly because of us humans. Everybody want’s to catch them everywhere, their life conditions are under a very hard pressure because of power dams, pollution, fish farming industry, illegal and very effective industrial fishing etc.. On top of all that, they have to travel very far, climb huge waterfalls, find a female just to find some peace to reproduce.

When I read about all the fantastic environmental work done to help nature, I get very great full. The people behind such fantastic environmental initiatives are true “environmental heros” - imagine if they weren’t there! In our second extra large issue, we will therefore try to help bring extra focus on an issue that worries us very much, the planning of the biggest open mine ever build, in the middle of the Bristol Bay area in Alaska, one of our last unique and very fragile natural treasures, on the surface of our beautiful blue planet. Well let’s get on with it and I sincerely hope you will enjoy our second issue of Pool 32 Mag. Tight Lines out there Mark Wengler

Editor

)><((((º>

“If we destroy our nature we destroy ourselves” Yvon Chouinard Owner of Patagonia

WHITE NIGHTS

THE DANISH coastline creates a unique biotope for sea trout fishing. The mixture of fresh and salt water around Denmark, makes the living conditions perfect for sea trout. The climate is divided into four seasons. Spring is the “easy-to-catchseason�, since the sea trout have been spawning most of the winter, and are very hungry. But these fish are not really worth caching, they are thin and tired.

THE ONES TO CATCH are the summer and autumn trout, they are in perfect condition but also a difficult to catch, because of the huge selection of food items present at this time of the year. We typically use a #6-7 rod, with a 0.20 leader, to obtain a relative “soft presentation� for these shy fish. And dark flies, stripped in the surface, is a very effective way to attract the summer trout.

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FLY FISHING FOR SEA TROUT during the summer season in Denmark, is typically a night experience. Water temperature drops along the coasts, during the cool nights and it attracts the fish from deeper areas. That’s the period when they begin their hunt for food in the shallow water. From around midsummer in June to the end of July these so called White Nights sometimes appear, a phenomena you only see very few times every summer, with nearly no wind, a clear sky and very quiet .

THESE WHITE NIGHTS and mornings are a fascinating experience, even thought the fish is hard to catch, I wouldn’t miss them for anything. Beauty is just a simple word to describe these moments Sometimes I just watch the scenery for several hours. This photo essay is from a couple of these White Nights and mornings, shot at the north coast of SjÌlland in Denmark July 2010.

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THE AVERAGE size of Danish sea trout are around 1-3 kg, but there is good chance of catching bigger fish, especially during these quiet summer nights. These trout sometimes get wild, and makes impressing jumps. And during the darkest hour, you are simply casting in the direction of the splashing sound of jumping fish. It’s a very exciting and adrenalin pumping way of fly fishing for sea trout.

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SAVE BRISTOL BAY ___________________________________________________________________________

BEFORE IT’S UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM IS DESTROYED FOREVER

Copper or silver

What is more valuable, copper or salmon? If you are a fisherman, this question seems utterly absurd. What finite store of minerals could be more precious than a creature that miraculously alights from stream gravel, travels downstream and then migrates thousands of miles at sea until eventually returning as living silver? Creatures of living silver that in turn mate, breed and produce still more living silver for generations to come. And yet, in spite of the obviousness of this lopsided comparison, we in the United States are on the verge of choosing finite copper over infinite silver. At the headwaters of Bristol Bay Alaska, plans are afoot to develop one of the world’s largest open pit copper mines. The project known as “Pebble Mine” is valued at US $300 billion and proponents of the endeavor claim that it will be bring much needed jobs and investment to a region that has lagged behind the rest of the country, at least economically.

paul greenbergs statement for pool 32

But what Bristol Bay might lack in infrastructure and so-called “modern” conveniences it more than compensates for with salmon. Bristol Bay is perhaps the most productive salmon spawning ground left on earth. Every year over 40 million salmon valued in excess of US $100 million return to the bay to continue a lifecycle that has been in motion for ten thousand years. If you have ever eaten a can of salmon, be you in Europe, Asia or the Americas, you have undoubtedly eaten from Bristol Bay. And if you the reader have any doubts of what a large copper mine will do to Alaska’s salmon, just google “copper mine” “fish kill” and “China” and see the horror of last month’s two million fish eradication that occurred when a copper mine failed and released toxic effluent into the Ting River.

Those who follow salmon and salmon politics groan at the familiarity of the Pebble Mine scenario. Indeed, the last thousand years has been the story of the elimination of one salmon run after another. And each time developers of salmon-destroying projects be they hydro-electric dams, logging operations, or water-sucking industrial farms, make the argument that their resource is more valuable than the salmon they will destroy in developing their businesses. With Pebble Mine both fisherman and fish eaters need to at last stand up for the raw economic benefit of salmon. Pebble Mine might yield $300 billion in the short term, but over the course of a few centuries, the salmon are, in real dollars worth more. Multiply the annual hundred million dollar value of Bristol Bay salmon over the 10,000 years they have already existed and you get a net worth several orders of magnitude larger than Pebble. Let us not then fall back on hazy platitudes of the emotional value of salmon when it comes to Bristol Bay. Let us present our case in simple terms: Living, infinite silver is worth more than lifeless, limited copper.

Info link to Paul Greenberg’s new book : Four Fish - The Future Of The Last Wild Food. Contents

“ I can’t imagine a worse location for a mine of this type, unless it was in my kitchen” Jay Hammond, former Govenor of Alaska (as quoted by Washington Post)

THROUGH A LONG and complex evolutionary process a perfect environmental balance has been created on our fascinating planet. An environmental balance all spices on earth are absolutely depending on. Off all the different spices on earth, homo sapiens (the thinking man) totally dominate all other spices and the planet is “in our hands”, so to speak. The human race have achieved some fantastic results in the relative short period we have dominated the Earth.

We have made great inventions which makes our lives much more easily, compared to our ancestors living conditions. But somehow it is kind of strange to observe how the human race is capable of sending people to the moon, but we are unable to protect our planet, even though it is the core of our very existence. Right now while I’m writing this, the BP oil spill is a reality, and it made me extremely happy when it was announced in the news that they finally seem to have found a solution.

But so far we haven’t even begun to imagine what the consequences from a pollution of that scale will be. It’s scary, and very sad, but also unbelievable to watch how greed and money influences political decisions, which quite often makes human behaviour a pure mystery. In our struggle to make all these “intelligent” changes, we somehow forgot natures fragile environmental balance. We have managed to genetically modify the food we eat, and to change our planets environment dramatically etc. without reflecting much about the long term consequences of our acts. And now we begin to pay a very high price for the way we, the humans, have chosen to treat our beautiful planet. The flodding in Pakistan is a very sad exsample of that.We have to make long term decisions otherwise we won’t survive, our planet is our foundation, and Mother Earth is having a hard time handling the pressure from the human race. Our future focus must be to“Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”

“We have to find our way back to a life in balance with nature�

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The human race has moved further and further away from it’s original natural origin and existence, through our rapidly developing innovative lifestyle, and currently our main focus seems to be materialistic happiness´. We have to find our way back to a life in balance with nature, and to respect other living spices. Every time we decide to destroy a forrest or a river to gain economically, we have to realize that we have destroyed something very old, valuable and fragile, and when it’s gone, it is very hard and expensive - to reestablish. If we take a closer and more holistic look at our existence, it’s very clear that everything is connected in some way. We are all a part of a sensitive balance.

Scientists have for example discovered that the trees in many forests are depending on the minerals and sea salts from the salmon, so when they die in some areas after spanning, the minerals and sea salts from their dead bodies will slowly seep into the ground and bring valuable nutrient to the forrest - in other words, the salmon died for a greater purpose. Some areas are more fragile that others. The rain forrest is a very important resource that maintains the CO2 balance on our planet, yet we cut down the trees, to gain profit - very strange! Our oceans is probably the greatest food resource for a millions of people worldwide, and also the “lungs of our planetâ€?.

Yet we dump nuclear waste in it, make devastating oil spills and allow fish farming industry, which spoils the living conditions for wild spices, and create a serious environmental threat to our oceans. Why do we act so carelessly? Greed? Narrow minded behaviour? - Or just plain lack of intelligence?. I wish I had the answer! But one thing is for sure, we have to change our behaviour, and start protecting some of these amazing and very fragile nature treasures - Before they are lost forever! Bristol Bay in Alaska is one of these fragile areas worth protecting. Besides the beautiful nature up there it’s home to the Kvichak and Nushagak, the two most profile sockeye salmon rivers still remaining in the world.

An outstanding nature resource which is the foundation for a lot of people, and has been for generations. Right now mining companies, The Northern Dynasty and the Anglo American, are making serious plans to develop the biggest open pit and underground mine on the planet - The Pebble Mine - right at the Bristol Bay’s headwaters. The environmental consequences from these kinds of mines is heavy pollution. If Pebble Mine is built it would cover 15 square miles of watershed and require what would be the largest dam in the world to contain toxic runoff. Try to imagine what that would mean to the wide range of habitants living in this very fragile region of our planet.

Bingham Mine examples of open mines

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“Do not be swayed by those who lead you to think this mine will be an ecological disaster� Bruce Jenkins, COO of Northern Dynasty Mines Inc. (as quoted by The New York Times)

“I will not go where people don’t want us. I just won’t. We’ve got enough on our plate without having communities against us.” Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll (as quoted in Fast Company online magazine.)

Berkeley pit open mine These open mines are gigantic

“Is poverty really the best that local people should hope for?� Bruce Jenkins COO Northern Dynasty Mines Inc. (as quoted by the Anchorage Daily News)

The proportions of the Pebble mining plans makes this issue more than just a local problem, it’s a global problem we are facing - and we have to react against the whole idea. We all need minerals and jobs are important - but what they are gambling with here is not theirs alone, it’s a global resource, which in some way belongs to the human race and what is even more important - it’s irreplaceable. It’s the wrong idea in the wrong place. At some places we just have to say no, because the risks at stake are simply too high, especially in this case. Just because it’s put down on paper that the mining companies are going to operate in a safe manner, that doesn’t mean that’s going to happen, other mining cases have proven to create huge environmental problems, why should this one be different?

“Bristol Bay are the largest salmon producing system in the world - it produces up to 60 million returning fish from a single spawning event�.

Dr. Carol Ann Woody - Fisheries Scientist - Anchorage.

Recent studies concluded that well over 70% of established mines violate the clean water standards they agree to meet during permitting. It would be a sin of mankind to let this environmental resource disappear forever. The wild fish is irreplaceable and important because it is both one of nature’s most beautiful miracles but it is also an important component in an ecosystem where it serves as an essential food resource for bears, eagles, killer whales etc. - and humans. These wild salmon are an amazing protein source pumped up into the rivers by the oceans. A huge gift from Mother Earth to a whole region of life.

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“Is it worth the risk - Hell no!!”

Anti Pebble Mine rallie.

“If Pebble Mine is buivlt it would cover 15 square miles of watershed and require what would be the largest dam in the world to contain toxic runoff�

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NICK HALL The wild salmon is a very important part of the identity for the people of the North Pacific and has been for generations, the Native people have been dependent on these salmon runs for thousands of years - the salmon are simply their backbone. Why do anyone want to take that away from them? - a huge profit maybe? - I wish I knew.

“It would be a sin of mankind to let this environmental resource disappear forever” Long-time fishing camp operator in Bristol Bay.

Nick Hall a brilliant photographer has donated this photo essay from the Bristol Bay region. Nick shoot these pictures while he visited a Native village showing their way of life, coexisting with the salmon runs. Showing a truly unique lifestyle that has to be protected from corporative and economic interests. A year ago Nick started a personal project called Seasons of Subsistence after visiting a Yup’ik summer fishing camp in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Besides his engagement in Seasons of Subsistence Nick has shoot the pictures for a huge Wal-Mart campaign supporting the sustainable fishery in Bristol Bay, as shown here.

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“For the people working at the Northern Dynasty, this is a job, for us it’s our life that’s on stake” Local fisherman

“A group of prominent jewellers including Tiffany & Co. has vowed never to use gold from the Pebble Mine�

BILL CARTER Bill Carter has written several books, co-worked with Bono from U2 in making the award winning documentary film, Miss Sarajevo, and on top of all that he’s also a successful photographer. In April 2010 his new book Red Summer was released. It’s a trilling story of his experience as a commercial fisherman in the tiny village of Egegik along the shores of Bristol Bay, in the farthest edge of Alaska. Red Summer decribes the danger, pain and joy of working on a salmon fishing boat and living in a small village, during four beautiful, brutal summers in one of earth’s few remaining wild places.

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Bill Carter has also very kindly donated some of his fantastic photos from his time in Egegik showing the tuff and rugged life commercial fishermen lead in this little corner of Alaska. Bill’s fascination for this region, and the lifestyle lead up there made him team up with Tout Unlimited (a sport fishing conservation group which is leading a diverse, grass roots campaign to protect the Bristol Bay watershed from the Pebble mine) to create some attention of this matter and to campaign against the mining plans, which Bill also believes will destroy the habitat.

“Do the work or leave”

Crew-boss Sharon

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Red Summer is an exciting story about the tuff work performed by commercial salmon fishermen in a remote Eskimo village in Bristol Bay Alaska, and his co-workers, particularly his crew-boss Sharon, who live by the credo: Do the work or leave.

THE NRDC’s BRISTOL BAY CAMPAIGN NRDC Statement by Joel Reynolds to Pool 32 from the Senior Attorney and the Director of Marine Mammal Protection. Bristol Bay is a place frozen in history, representing a vast and diverse ecosystem ranging from tundra to wetlands, with hundreds of rivers and streams crisscrossing the region and feeding some of the world’s most productive salmon runs. The salmon runs support commercial, sports and subsistence fishing, as well as a vast array of majestic wildlife. Bristol Bay is truly a place of reflection and solitude previously untouched by industrialization, until now. Foreign mining companies, including Anglo American, Northern Dynasty, Rio Tinto and Mitsubishi, seek to build Pebble Mine - one of the largest open pit copper and gold mines ever imagined - at the headwaters feeding into Bristol Bay. The toxic tailings from this intensive enterprise will despoil important streams and lakes that serve as a nursery and breeding ground to world-renown sockeye and chinook salmon runs. Research shows us that even trace amounts of copper destroys a salmon’s sense of smell, disrupting their ability to find their spawning streams, reproduce, avoid predators and find food. The development of Pebble Mine would forever change the pristine nature of this extraordinary place and most certainly cause permanent turmoil and devastation to the indigenous people of the region and the salmon and other wildlife upon which they depend. Contents

And here’s a statement from Matt Skoglund, NRDC wildlife advocate, who’s fishing experience in the Bristol Bay region attests to how spectacular the area really is for fisherman. One of the most memorable days of my life was spent on a tributary to Lake Iliamna. We flew over the lake, and a tributary running red with sockeye caught our attention. We landed on the lake, tied the plane to a small tree, and hiked up the tributary from its confluence with Iliamna. We caught and released enormous rainbow trout, saw enormous brown bears, and sported enormous smiles all day. The lake, the fish, the bears, the scenery, the wilderness, and my memory of that day - it’s way more precious than any quantity of gold. Here is two relevant links

NRDC Bristol Bay NRDC Stop Pebbel Mine

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In this issue Pool 32 Mag has focused on the Bristol Bay cause. If you want Pool 32 Mag to bring focus on an importaint environmental cause, and have some relevant info you want to share with us - then please send us a mail.

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Erin & Hig Mckittrick The Ground Truth Trekking

Erin Mckittrick wrote this personal statement for Pool 32, and it gives an honest - and very scary perspective of the whole situation. Over the past five years, I’ve walked into the Pebble Mine site three times. Twice, I walked from the village of Nondalton, 16 miles away. Once I walked all the way from Seattle. Each time, at some undefinable point along the way, I crossed from quiet tundra into the buzz of modern industry. Long cables swung beneath the four colorful helicopters as they itted between the drill rigs, in a constant cycle of lifting, lowering, and delivering, never seeming to pause for more than a moment. A small red plane buzzed back and forth on seemingly endless fuel runs. A half-dozen drill rigs ran day and night, interrupting the quiet darkness with beams of light and a constant mechanized humming.

But these drill rigs are pinpricks on the land—mere specks in what they aim to create. The drills pierced four thousand feet beneath us, slurping nearly three hundred gallons of fuel each day they pushed deeper. Looking for copper. Looking for gold. Looking for money. The hills and mountains and wetlands around me would be obliterated - transformed into a pile of mine tailings that could leach toxic acids and metals into the surrounding waterways. And this is the dirty secret of modern mining: That waste lasts forever. And forever is longer than any human dam, or water treatment plant, or corporation, or government, can last. If Pebble is built, whether it happens in one year, ten years, a hundred years, or a thousand, those tailings will eventually pollute the downstream watersheds. Failure is a given. We are just taking bets on when it might happen, and how rapid a failure it might be.

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Erin McKittrick very kindly donated this facinating photo essay to Pool 32 Mag from her 450 mile trek along waters endangered by the Pebble Mine. The ground truth trekking is primarily the work of Hig and Erin, with the help of various contributors. Hig has a PhD in Geology, while Erin has a masters in Molecular Biology.

In June 2007, Erin and Hig McKittrick left Seattle for the Aleutian Islands, traveling solely by human power through some of the most rugged terrain in the world. This is a small part of their photo story of their impressing trek along the northwest coast and their encounters with pelting rains, ferocious winds, blizzards, and bears.

“We seek to use our scientific background to inform our on-the-ground understanding of the issues�

The Ground Truth Trekking is based on the belief that expeditions to see what’s on the ground help us learn about important issues. We combine that “ground truth” with “researched truth,” using our scientific backgrounds along with our adventures to come up with something we hope will further the conversation about these issues in an entertaining and informative way.

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Their journey was an epic wilderness adventure, but also one of learning and discovery. Erin and Hig set out with a desire to better understand the interplay between human communities, ecosystems, and natural resources along their route. They pass through clear cuts, mining areas, and streams with declining wild salmon populations

Erin and Hig’s website contains a wealth of relevant and very valuable information about the whole regions fragile environment, along with a huge photo library from their Ground Truth Trekking website. A long trek home - Erin Mckittrick’s exciting new book, decribing their fantastic Ground truth Trekking.

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“The Pebble Mine project is a controversial proposal by Northern Dynasty Minerals to build one of the largest gold and copper mines in the world, in southwest Alaska.The Northern Dynasty proposal involves both a large open pit and an underground mine, as well as removal of the water from the headwaters of Upper Talarik Creek and the Koktuli River (important fish habitats).The site sits at the headwaters of two major Bristol Bay drainages (Nushagak and Kvichak), and potentially poses a large threat to the region’s salmon.� Erin Mckittrick

Drill rig hose dumping grey slurry into the tundra, Pebble East.

Tundra killed by a leak in a drill rig hose, Pebble East.

Make sure to read the -“Anglo mine tracking report” on Erin’s website by Phillip Mattera - it’s very interesting reading and extremely relevant. Use this direct link : The Anglo American’s Track record And trough this link to Erin Mckittrick’s website you will find a lot and really relevant information about Bristol Bay.

Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska BY SCOTT HED EXCULISIVLY FOR POOL 32

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IN A REMOTE corner of the planet, an epic battle is shaping up. Outside the angling community far too few people may have heard of Bristol Bay, in Southwest Alaska. It’s a region that is defined by water, with countless rivers and streams draining large lakes and the surrounding tundra, hills, and valleys. The waters of Bristol Bay support what is widely recognized as the finest and most productive wild salmon and trophy rainbow trout fishery on the planet.

Runs of all five species of Pacific salmon return to the rivers and streams of Bristol Bay: the mighty Chinook (king), Coho (silver), Pink, Chum, and – in numbers found nowhere else on Earth – massive runs of Sockeye (red). In recent years, sockeye numbers have exceeded 40 million fish returning to Bristol Bay! The salmon, returning to perpetuate the life cycle of this incredible species, form the backbone of the entire Bristol Bay ecosystem. These fish support everything from insect life to bears to eagles to predatory rainbow trout. The famed “leopard” rainbows of Southwest Alaska (so-named because of the abundance of spots on the fish) are the fish of dreams. Fish that qualify as that elusive catch-of-a-lifetime are caught by anglers every season in Bristol Bay. By most accounts, an angler doesn’t qualify as catching a “trophy” rainbow in Bristol Bay unless the fish touches 30 inches (76.2 cm for the metric-inclined) on the tape. And just as often, every season, anglers feel the sensation of that huge trout on their line…sometimes for a moment, sometimes for minutes…only to have it elude them.

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That fish will haunt them, but it will also draw them back to Bristol Bay. Because the fishing there is just that good. When not battling salmon or trophy rainbow trout, other game fish species pursued by sport anglers include Dolly Varden, arctic char, arctic grayling, and northern pike. While sport anglers are drawn to the Bristol Bay region for pleasure (even when the rain is coming sideways in a strong, cold September wind), the salmon runs of Southwest Alaska have supported a commercial fishing economy for over 125 years and a vibrant Native culture for much, much longer. Bristol Bay is the largest commercial salmon fishery in the world, employing thousands of people every season. Fish from Bristol Bay is processed and shipped to markets worldwide, providing healthy food for millions of people. Alaska Natives have depended upon the bounty of the land and water for generations untold. In this remote region, each family harvests salmon, caribou, moose, and other wild animals and plants to fill their freezers and pantries.There’s not much in the way of store-bought food available, so the land is their grocery store.

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Unfortunately, the future of the Bristol Bay region is uncertain, due to plans by multinational mining interests to develop what would be the largest open-pit copper/gold/ molybdenum mine in North America.The proposed Pebble Mine could become the anchor for a region-wide “mining district,� as nearly 800 square miles (over 2,000 square km) have been staked with mining claims. The remote nature of Bristol Bay, which is an important reason for the productivity of the ecosystem, would be placed at risk.

A deepwater port would be constructed, with road access provided to the mine site – crossing dozens of streams that support salmon runs. Located in a seismically active region, the Pebble project is estimated to produce at minimum 2.5 billion tons of sulfide-laced waste rock that would need to be stored and treated from now until the end of time. Any release of this waste into the surface or groundwater has the potential to devastate Bristol Bay’s salmon runs.

The risks associated with this project are simply too high. That’s why the campaign to protect Bristol Bay and its fish and wildlife has attracted a strong and diverse set of allies. Alaska Natives, commercial fishermen, and sport fishing interests have historically been at odds over allocation of the fish.

Now, to save what supports them all, they have banded together in an unprecedented alliance.Joining the battle are hunters and anglers, over 170 companies in the fishing and hunting product industries, hunting and fishing conservation organizations from all across the USA, and over 30 of the biggest names in the retail jewelry industry.

Bristol Bay is a fishery of worldwide significance, both for recreation and food production. It also supports a dynamic Native culture. All of that is worth fighting for. We just need more people to learn about the fight. You can learn a lot more about Bristol Bay by visiting these websites:

SportsmansAlliance - SaveBristolBay - OurBristolBay - RedGoldFilm.

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In 2006, the Bristol Bay salmon fishery generated over 300 million $ in Alaska economy - and sport fishing in the Bristol Bay region, contributes with 60 million $ a year

Take action now

!

?

but

how

There is several ways you can support this important cause. Of course by donating money through some of the supporting and very active websites mentioned here in this Bristol Bay issue. But another effective way to be supportive is to send a direct mail-signal to the relevant people and offices. Even though Bristol Bay is located in a remote corner of our planet, it doesn’t mean that this matter is only of local concern. If readers of Pool 32 Mag from all over the world send a direct signal to those who make the decisions, it will show that this matter is indeed a global concern. Pool 32 therefore urge you, dear reader, to send a direct message and help us support this very important cause - it only takes a few click’s - but it makes a huge difference if a lot of people send a clear signal together - worldwide!

We have made it easy for you. Here you will find six relevant pre-made mail messages to some of the most significant people and places. All you have to do is fill in your name and send it, that way we, as worldwide consumers, will send a very powerful and global signal. Pool 32 thank all of you who sign up sincerely for your support.

Support the No Dirty Gold Campaign by “EARTHWORKS� Using this direct blue link to fill in your name and country.

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Send a message trough “Our Bristol Bay” - directly to The Anglo American’s CEO - Cynthia Carrol Using this direct blue link to fill in your name and country.

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Send a message trough “Save Bristol Bay” - directly to “The Bureau of Land Management” Using this direct blue link to fill in your name and country.

Support the Protect Bristol Bay Campaign by “EARTHWORKS” Using this direct blue link to fill in your name and country.

Send a message trough NRDC - To Stop the Pebble Mine Using this direct blue link to fill in your name and country.

Support the facebook cause - “Stop Pebbel Mine� - directly by using this blue link.

During my recherchĂŠ on the Bristol Bay issue, I have had the pleasure of being in contact with a bunch of very interesting and great people. Authors, photographers and enthusiastic people behind environmental organizations who really care about the future perspectives for Bristol Bay, from the bottom of their harts. We have had an ongoing dialogue about this very serious cause, a subject which is of great concern for a lot of people worldwide, since it will influence a huge amount of lives, and businesses as well. I therefore would like to thank you all very much for your kind help and support, and all the relevant knowledge you so kindly have shared with me during the last couple of months. Some of the people I have been in contact with, have very kindly donated a wide range of beautiful pictures from this amazing region, and I therefore would like to credit all of them for their kindness and help. We can only hope that with all the great efforts being done from many different angles, this madness will stop. And I pray that the politicians who makes the decisions, will make the right decisions in this case.

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CREDITS A statement made for Pool 32 Mag - by Paul Greenberg author of the highly relevant book Four Fish ( www.fourfish.org ) A wide range of beautiful pictures donated by - Photographer Nick Hall from his photo journey to Bristol Bay ( www.seasonsofsubsistence.com ) - and the author of Red Summer and photographer Bill Carter ( www.billcarter.cc ). And also some fantastic photos donated by author Erin McKittrick and her husband Hig from their impressive “Ground truth trekking” an epic wilderness adventure, and journey along the west coast and the Bristol Bay area (www.groundtruthtrekking.org ) Make sure to visit their website it’s a treasure of pure information from this region, and to explore her exciting book A long trek home. Besides these credits, I also want to credit all these photographers who very kindly donated some great pictures to Pool 32 Mag true Scott Hed from Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska. Absolutely great shoots, thank you all so very much : Terry Gunn, Patricia Edel, Scott Kuchta, Barry and Cathy Beck, Jim Klug, Brian O’keef, Jan Rumble, Lauren Oakes, Lindsey Bloom and Katherine Carscallen. As well as the mining photos from Wikipedia.org

MNEMIOPSIS LEIDYL Since we focused the “Mnemiopsis Leidyi” (also know as the “Warty comb jelly”) in our last issue, I promised to present a status report of this very serious fauna pollution in Danish waters. I therefore contacted two highly respected persons, who are deeply involved in following this environmental problem closely - Professor Hans-Ulrik Riisgård and Lector Ole S. Tendal - and they kindly wrote this very interesting status report for Pool 32 Mag, which gives a detailed perspective of the situation. I can honestly say that this is a very scary scenario, and Pool 32 Mag will of course follow this problem closely in the future.

Invasive comb jellies (Mnemiopsis leidyi) in Danish waters Report written by Professor Hans Ulrik Riisgård from the Marine Biological Research Centre, University of Southern Denmark, Hindsholmvej 11, DK- 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark. E-mail: hur@biology.sdu.dk Lector Ole S.Tendal from the Zoological Museum, SNM, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. E-mail: ostendal@snm.ku.dk

Breakdown of fishery in the Black Sea The comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi, which belongs to the phylum Ctenophora, is indigenous to the east coast of the Americas, but in the early 1980’s it was brought to the Black Sea with ballast water of cargo ships, and a few years later it had established a permanent local population. In 1989, enormous mass concurrencies of the ctenophore coincided with a breakdown of the important anchovy fishery in the Black Sea.The collapse was caused by a combination of over-fishing, food competition from the zooplanktivorous ctenophore, and predation of M. leidyi on fish eggs and larvae. Later on, the invasive ctenophore spread into the Azov, Marmara, Aegean and Caspian Seas where similar ecological impacts were recorded

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Blooms along the Dutch coast in 2006 More recently, during the late summer of 2006, large blooms of Mnemiopsis leidyi were observed in estuaries along the coast of the Netherlands. Presumably, M. leidyi found its way to the Dutch coast in ballast water. In late summer and autumn 2006 M. leidyi was observed in coastal and estuarine areas, both to the north and south of Denmark and in the western Baltic Sea.

Invasive ctenophores in Danish waters in 2007

The blooms of Mnemiopsis leidyi observed along the coast of the Netherlands in 2006 made the spreading of this invasive ctenophore to neighbouring waters a topic of major concern. However, tracing back with the help of underwater photographs it turned out that the species was present in Danish waters both in 2005 and 2006. The first mass occurrences of M. leidyi in Danish waters were observed in2007 partly by biologists, partly by beach guests, boat owners and amateur divers. In the period to June 2007, the density of M. leidyi remained very low in the Great Belt, but numerous reports indicated that between July and September the ctenophore had spread to in all inner Danish waters, and mass occurrences were reported from several areas. In Limfjorden, M. leidyi exhibited mass occurrence in the late summer of 2007.

On two cruises in August and September, M. leidyi ctenophores were found in every net sample from 9 locations in Limfjorden. The population densities were high, up to more than 800 individuals per m3 in the innermost part, whereas the body length was small (5 to 15 mm). The bio-volumes were very high (100 and 300 ml “comb jellies� per m3 seawater) in the central parts of Limfjorden, and even higher than those from the Black Sea, where the greatest mean bio-volume was about 184 ml jellyfish per m3 in the autumn of 1989 when the zooplankton and fish stocks collapsed. Some damage to fisheries has been reported by local fishermen whose nets and traps have been filled by enourmous amounts of Mnemiopsis to such a degree that fish and shrimps were not caught for long periods of time. The distribution and abundance of Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Bornholm Basin, which is an important spawning ground of several fish stocks in the Baltic Sea was studied in November 2007. It was found that M. leidyi ctenophores were patchily distributed over a large part of the investigated area.Vertically, the highest densities of M. leidyi occurred at 40 to 60 m around the salinity spring-layer (halocline). Horizontally, the highest abundances were found north and west of Bornholm, but densities were low compared to those observed in Limfjorden at the same time, and the estimated predation impact on zooplankton by M. leidyi was negligible.

Nevertheless, because of the ctenophore’s wide distribution in the Baltic Sea and its ability for rapid population growth along with its potential influence on fish stocks by competing for food and by preying on fish eggs and newly hatched larvae, the possible future development of M. leidyi in the Baltic Sea is worrying.

Ctenophores in Danish waters since 2007 No national monitoring programmes follow the occurrence of Mnemiopsis leidyi in Danish waters. Quantitative sampling of jellyfish have only been carried out in Kerteminde Fjord/ Kertinge Nor and in Limfjorden during cruises with “Limgrim” as part of an ongoing research project conducted by the Marine Biological Research Centre, University of southern Denmark in co-operation with the Envinronment Centre Ringkøbing, Danish Ministry of the Environment. The densities of M. leidyi in Limfjorden were lower in 2008 and 2009, and in 2010 no ctenophores were observed during cruises in April and July (probably due to a very cold winter in 2009-2010), but in late August blooms of M leidyi were observed in the central parts of Limfjorden, especially Skive Fjord. Soon after a large number of observations made by beach guests, boat owners and amateur divers were sent by email (often with photos) to the present authors, and now it is clear that M. leidyi has re-invaded all the inner Danish waters with amazingly high speed. A full scale uncontrolled ecological experiment is going on and the ecological consequences remain unpredictable.

No biological control - and no money The native habitats of Mnemiopsis leidyi are temperate to subtropical estuaries along the Atlantic coast of North and South America, and here it is preyed upon by another ctenophore, Beroe ovata. Although also introduced into the Black Sea and adjacent areas B. ovata has so far not been recorded in Danish waters, or in other parts of the NE Atlantic. Beroe species eat their prey by engulfing it if size allows or, if it is too large, by biting pieces out with the use of macro cilia inside the mouth opening. The macro cilia are different from one species of Beroe to another, seemingly adapted to a preferred prey. Until now the two species of Beroe occurring in Danish waters (B. cucumis and B. gracilis) have not been able take the role as predators of M. leidyi which so far seems to be completely out of biological control. Co-operations have been established between some Danish environmental centers and university researchers, but the grant-awarding authorities in Denmark have hitherto shown little interest in supporting research that may clarify highly relevant questions and assess the ecological impacts on the marine environment and fishing caused by the new invasive comb jelly.

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References Riisgård, H.U., Bøttiger, L., Madsen, C.V., Purcell, J.E. (2007). Invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in Limfjorden (Denmark) in late summer 2007 - assessment of abundance and predation impact. Aquatic Invasions 2(4): 395-401. Tendal, O.S., Jensen, K.R., Riisgård, H.U. (2007). Invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi widely distributed in Danish waters. Aquatic Invvasions 2(4): 455-460. Huwer, B., Storr-Paulsen M., Riisgård, H.U., Haslob, H. (2008). Abundance, horizontal and vertical distribution of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the central Baltic Sea, November 2007. Aquatic Invasions 3(2): 113-124. Riisgård, H.U., Barth-Jensen, C., Madsen, C.V. (2010). High abundance of the jellyfish Aurelia aurita excludes the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi to establish in a shallow cove (Kertinge Nor, Denmark). Aquatic Invasions 5(4): xx-xx (published on-line: doi: 10.3391/ai.2010.5.4) Photos - Hans.Ulrik Riisgård and Wikipedia.org.

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Miðfjarðará Volcanoes, trolls and salmon - lot’s of salmon

Midfjardara is known in Iceland as The Queen of Rivers. This stunning river with its gin clear water has over 200 named pools, and with only six to ten rods that rotate over five beats it’s hard not to feel that you have this cracking river to yourself. Here’s a photo essay from this outstanding “Salmon Paradise”.

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The Midfjardara is perfect for those that like to use single or small double-handed rods with floating line and small flies or hitch-tubes. The main run of the river is predominantly made up of grilse but in the early season the majority of fish tend to be multi-sea-winter fish in the 10 to 18 pound range.

The main river also has three tributaries, the Nupsa which is perfect for finding pots and pools, the Vestura and the Austura that features the famous canyon section which, although a hike, is well worth it as it is a beautiful part of the river. The joy of the Midfjardara is that there is so much water to fish that even if one opts out of the canyon section on the Austura there are numerous different pools to fish.

The season on the Midfjardara starts June 23rd. and ends September 28th. From mid July to end of August is prime time. This is when the Midfjardara get the biggest numbers of fish running into the system. Mostly huge grilse runs in a mixture with MWS salmon. They are very aggressive and like to take a surface flies, like the Hitch. Some times they even jump out of the water and take the fly on the way back!! - a real adrenaline pumping experience. The majority of Midfjardara salmon range from 5 - 9 pounds but fish up to 20 pounds is caught every year. With the catch and release policy introduced 2008 the average weight will increase year after year.

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You lose a few fish - But you surely also catch plenty of fish in Midfjardara

Midfjardara’s population of salmon is very impressing, I caught 87 salmon in 6 days. In one of the many exelent pools I caught 4 salmon all of them over 4 kgs - in only 15 minutes on a Hitch fly - that’s the first time it’s happen for me and probably also the last!!

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We had were really enthusiastic guide. A great guy very helpfull and full of positive energy.

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Island is fascinating place and I’ll surely return in a near future. They probably have some of the best fly fishing rivers in the world up there, with a raw and yet very beautiful nature surrounding it all.

RELEVANT LINKS Lodge at the Midfjardara river Fishpal Iceland reports

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Beauty &Perfection As a young kid I loved fishing, I was always out there with my rod in my hand enjoying this magnificent sport. Much later in life I was introduced to fly fishing, and after a while I caught my first sea trout, it changed my life completely. I was instantly “hooked”, and today - many years later - I still feel the same sensation every time I’m out there with a fly rod in my hand. In the beginning my equipment was a cheap combination of what ever I could afford, it worked for a while, then I lost a really big sea trout, because of a broken rod. That was the moment when I stated developing into a gear freak, which resulted in a impressing collection of rods and reels, I somehow never find the time to use!!.

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So why not complete this issue of Pool 32 Mag with a little nostalgic gear journey back in time to where it all began and enjoy some of these beautiful reels and old Hardy catalogues covers.

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My fascination today is focused on old fishing gear. I was therefore absolutely trilled when I got in contact with Brian Taylor from the UK, who has a impressing photo collection of old gear. I asked Brian if we could show some of these beauties in this issue. Bryan agreed and have very kindly donated this photo essay for Pool 32 Mag. A unique collection of beautiful reels and old Hardy catalogues.

Some of these reels must have an impressing history. They have been in the hands of fly fishing enthusiasts or maybe Royal profiles. Probably been a faithful partner in many critical moments of adrenaline pumping fights. They are evidence from a lost decade. A decade when The Hardy Brothers were setting the gear standards for the international fly fishing scene.

A lot of improvements has happen since then . Here it’s the latest model of Cascapedia

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Very old

colourful

Hardy ads

1899 Old Hardy Covers

1912

1921

1924

1929

1937

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You can learn more about Brian Taylor from these three websites: Angler Angst blog Existential Angler blog Occasional website - LyErg Besides these websites, Brian Taylor is the co-author with Patrick Garner of the forthcoming book “D is for Dingley� - which is the interesting story of a master reelmaker, published December 2010 by Whitefish Press.US.

Don’t miss out on our next issue - we will bring some exciting photo essay’s from Gaula, Hemsila and other exciting places SIGN UP HERE it’s free. Contents

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