← Back to all episodes

Ep. 217: Mark Kurlansky on Saving Salmon

Published: 2020-04-20 10:00:00
Description Show ▼

Steven Rinella talks with Mark Kurlansky, Phil Taylor, and Janis Putelis.

Topics discussed: Mark being a lifelong fisherman; fisheries and over fishing as only minor problems by comparison; how salmon get hit by everything we do wrong; the 11-foot-high jump of the salmon; Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain and dedicated fly fisherman; the Atlantic Ocean's decreasing carrying capacity; why catch it if you're going to release it?; calibrating the success of salmon stock recovery to population numbers from centuries ago; environmentalists spending too much time trying to stop things rather than fix things; subject as a proxy for your soapbox issue; the problem with solutions; New Deal dam building; dumbed down wild salmon; celebrating the completion of your 33rd book (Salmon: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate) by beginning to write your 34th book; and more.

 

Connect with Steve and MeatEater

Steve on Instagram and Twitter

MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Referenced Books

Cod
by Mark Kurlansky
The host mentions being familiar with Mark's book 'Cod' when introducing the guest. Later discussed extensively as Mark mentions it came out in 1997 about the collapse of northern stock in the Grand Banks and overfishing problems.
Referenced at 00:00:08
Salt
by Mark Kurlansky
The host mentions Mark's book 'Salt' as one that 'seemed to make its way onto every coffee table and bookshelf from the country' when introducing the guest author.
Referenced at 00:00:08
The Big Oyster
by Mark Kurlansky
Mentioned by the host as one of Mark Kurlansky's previous works when introducing him at the beginning of the podcast.
Referenced at 00:00:08
A World Without Fish
by Mark Kurlansky
Listed by the host as one of Mark Kurlansky's previous books during the introduction of the guest.
Referenced at 00:00:08
Salmon
by Mark Kurlansky
Mark's new book and the main subject of the interview. Published by Patagonia Books, it discusses the history and decline of salmon populations globally.
Referenced at 00:00:08
The Perfect Storm
by Sebastian Junger
Mark Kurlansky mentions this book came out at the same time as his Cod book, and describes doing a TV show with Sebastian Junger in Rhode Island. He contrasts his experience getting onto commercial fishing boats with Junger's difficulties.
Referenced at 00:00:08
Both the Eastern Stars
by Mark Kurlansky
Mark mentions writing this book about baseball in the Dominican Republic, explaining it 'really wasn't about baseball at all. It was about the US relationship with the Dominican Republic.'
Referenced at 00:00:08