Fish Related BF Story of the Week: Kalama Edition

Here's an oldie but a goodie.

"As I stood there in my drift boat watching the line slowly peel off of the reel, I couldn’t help but feel confused about what could possibly be attached to the other end when it stood up in the middle of the river 30 feet below my boat and seemed, by the glowing corkies and sand shrimp, to be hooked in the left shoulder and not at all comfortable with the whole situation, nor where either of the two gentlemen in the front of my boat." Read on 

And, a number of years earlier, up river from the beginners hole, this kid ran into a N.A.P. (North American Primate)

Positive Signs for Patagonia's Rivers

Some good news courtesy of Conservacion Patagonica.

Patagonia’s rivers have made headlines again—this time with surprisingly positive news. Colbún, one of the two major owners of HidroAysén, is backpedalling from this controversial and risky project to dam two of Patagonia’s wildest rivers, including the Baker River, the western border of Conservacion Patagonica’s Patagonia Nation Park project. 

           Baker River at the Western Entrance to the future Patagonia National Park

 At the end of last week, Colbún recommended an indefinite suspension of HidroAysén by halting all work on the 1,200 mile-long transmission line’s environmental impact assessment. In a statement, Colbún cited the lack of clarity in national energy policy as the reason for its decision. The Patagonia Sin Represas (Patagonia Without Dams) campaign has long advocated for a national energy policy, arguing that energy and the protection of Chile’s precious natural resources are too important to be left to haphazard development. So we are delighted that Colbún agrees with us!

  Colbún’s announcement represents a step forward in the effort to save Patagonia’s rivers and develop forward-thinking national energy policies in Chile. This move highlights the Sin Represas campaign’s effectiveness in educating the public and decision makers about the ecological, technical, and financial risks of the plan.  An increasing number of citizens are voicing their concerns about the impact the dams and transmission line would have on Chile. They join us in advocating for healthier, responsible economic development in the Aysén region, based in ecotourism, conservation, ranching and small-scale fishing.  

 Despite this positive sign, the campaign for Patagonia’s rivers is far from won. Contrary to some media hype, HidroAysén is not cancelled. Colbún may be pressuring the government to give stronger support to the project. Conservacion Patagonica and our partners in the Sin Represas campaign are pursuing numerous strategies to defeat this project permanently: from legally challenging irregularities in the dam approval process to outlining the project’s risks to potential funders to helping accelerate the development of cleaner, more efficient energy supplies. At this moment, it is difficult to predict how this campaign will unfold.  

 Meanwhile, we continue to focus on creating Patagonia National Park, which will serve as a keystone for regional touristic development. 

 We’re not celebrating yet—now more than ever, we are working to build support for an alternative vision for Patagonia’s future. But we take heart at these momentous signs of dissention among the dam builders, and hope you do as well. 

 With hope, cautiously—

Conservacion Patagonica

More links -

BBC News: “Chilean power firm Colbun puts project on ice”

Bloomberg News: “Patagonia Protests Lead Endesa Partner to Backpedal on Chile Dam”

River Electroshock - Oregon PD Style (Recycled Chum)

On this day, exactly 5 years ago, we posted this.  It just may be more entertaining now than it was then.

Fish Tales

Fisherman in Croatia are rushing to catch a large gold-coloured fish that reportedly grants a wish each time in exchange for being put back in the water.

The bizarre pearlfish.

Scientists crack the 70-year-old mystery of why fish freak out.

They netted a wild Chinook salmon, and were getting ready to release it back into the river, when a sea lion came out of nowhere and grabbed the net and the fish.

Best fly fishing/sealed butthole joke you'll hear all day

Study Warns of Economic Damage in a Keystone Pipeline Spill

A new report from the Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute shows how the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is an economic liability with the potential to cause significant job losses from a major tar sands spill.

The report also concluded that spills from pipelines of tar sands-derived oil are three times more likely to occur per mile as spills of crude oil. And when they do, researchers say, the damage is greater, the public health risks larger, the clean-up harder, the costs higher.

LINK (Via: Think Progress)

And lets not forget the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline and its associated tanker traffic.