The Samsara of Salmon by John Connell
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0019z9x
"John Connell goes fishing in northern Spain, home to one of the oldest populations of Atlantic salmon in the world. But he discovers a world on an ecological edge - with water at dangerously low levels, distraught fishermen and virtually no fish. 'What is a fish without a river?' he asks. 'Indeed what is a river without a fish?' "
NOTES AND PART TRANSCRIPT:
Samsara "describes a form of emotional or existential distress caused by environmental change. It is best described as the lived experience of negatively perceived environmental change." Wikipedia
"The word solastalgia was coined by philosopher Glenn Albrecht in his 2003 book Solastalgia: a new concept in human health and identity.[1] He describes it as "the homesickness you have when you are still at home" and your home environment is changing in ways you find distressing. In many cases, this is in reference to global climate change, but more localized events such as volcanic eruptions, drought or destructive mining techniques can cause solastalgia as well." Wikipedia
"The former poet laureate, Ted Hughes (Connell calls him a great environmentalist) in 1964, talked about the wild places that formed these rivers. These are the remains of what the world was once like all over, he wrote. They carry us back to the surroundings our ancestors lived in for 150 million years."
5 salmon had been caught all season. All the N Spain rivers were near empty. Asturias people spoke of fears of extinction of the entire local salmon population. The main talk was of drought and rising temperatures. Even in the sanctuary there are only tiny numbers of salmon.
"Those empty rivers have radicalised me. Often I feel the earth cries but we do not listen. Or rather, we do not have the ears to hear it anymore. We have removed ourselves to such an extent from nature that the cries are not discernible from the traffic of a large city or the constant interruptions of our phones.
"Samsara means the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. All is connected. Without the salmon there are knock-on effects for a whole ecological system. They are vital to the marine environment. Other fish depend on the juveniles and predators depend on the salmon. They are also an iconic indicator of the health of the water. Being good environmentalists is still a choice we have on these islands of ours. They say it is not too late - yet to reverse the damage done to our climate. But reading that the earth hasn't been this hot in 125,000 years, I wonder how much longer we've got? And looking at the rivers drying out across Europe in these heat waves, where fish are dying for want of water, one wonders what the future will hold for the great kings of the rivers. What is a fish without a river? Indeed, what is a river without a fish?"
"Ted Hughes said the salmon are owned by everyone. These ancient animals are connected to us through legends, through ritual and through their very beauty. They encompass the best parts of our natural world."
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