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By Melisse.
Wildlife abounds in Alaska!! Seeing moose, bear, eagles, cranes, and many other land animals is a common, though thoroughly exciting, occurrence. The waters are amazingly full with an abundance of fish, whales, otters, crabs, and lots of other sea life, even after being heavily fished for a very long time.
For many (and perhaps most) people in Homer, and other parts of Alaska, fishing is a way of life. And for some, hunting is as well. These people don’t buy their meat at the supermarket, and thus they do not support industrial meat agriculture - chicken, beef, pork, etc. Some don’t participate in the act of killing animals to eat but do choose to eat meat. They may barter goods or services in exchange for the bounty of those who do. It is an honest way to go about eating meat and in many ways healthier for body and environment. Fish, beef, chicken and other animals that are farmed for human consumption in large concentrated, contained areas create large problems. The highly concentrated waste pollutes what ever surrounding environment it is in. Due to their unsanitary conditions the animals develop diseases which then are treated with antibiotics and
Sea Otter Floating on Its Back
For safety they are often seen floating on their backs in large groups. Often, through the summer, they are holding babies. other drugs. This is unhealthy for the animals and the consumers and creates a negative effect of resistance of bacteria to controls. In Alaska, the consumption of wild salmon is encouraged to support the local economy but, also because the fish in salmon farms develop bacteria that end up infecting the wild population. This is really bad news. Sustainable practices of fishing wild populations and keeping both ocean and river waterways clean and available for wild salmon and all other marine life is essential for the continuation of sea life populations.
As for me, I am well aware of being hypocritical when it comes to eating meat. I am emotionally unable to kill it myself, whether fish or any other animal, but will enjoy eating it, particularly fish and shellfish. Nightly, I had the pleasure of dining on Josh’s gourmet cuisine including dishes such as herbed halibut over pasta, teriyaki grilled salmon and crab quiche, to name just a few. (Josh and Debbie are dear friends with whom I stayed while working for Kay’s company, Dixon Studios, installing an exhibit about tidal habitats at Island’s and Ocean Nature Center.) When fishing on Kachemak Bay in Homer, (which I did
I Caught a Halibut
But my dear and sensitive friends, Josh and Matt, left it up to me to keep or release. I released it back into the bay. many times), while others “did the deed”, indeed a bloody, gory, distressing event, I turn away, plugged my ears and hummed while blood spattered everywhere and the poor fish got cut to drain it of blood and clubbed to death or near death. If I were left to my own devises and had only the option of killing the meat I was to eat, I would surely be a vegetarian. And in general, although I don’t object philosophically to eating meat and to hunting and fishing I have an aversion to attitudes about animals being on earth just for human’s consumption and a lack of respect for them as thinking, feeling, sentient beings.
Another interesting way to obtain meat in Alaska is to put your name on the “Road Kill List”. This means that when ever an animal, such as a moose, deer or bear is hit by a car, a phone call is made to the name at the top of the list, no matter what time of day or night. That person has the option of coming to pick it up to process it. If they aren’t available, the next name on the list is contacted. In
this way people butcher and fill their freezers (which most everyone has) full of meat to feed their family for an entire year.
Even wildlife you wouldn’t think would be considered food is eaten and has designated hunting seasons. The sandhill crane and spruce grouse are two that came to my attention while in Homer, Alaska these past few weeks.
So next time you eat meat, if you do eat meat (which many do not these days, and Dave and I seldom do) I encourage you to take a moment to think about that animal’s life and it’s environment. It’s always a good idea to honor the spirit of that which you are eating.
(Look for all the photos by scrolling down to the bottom of the first page and also clicking onto page 2.)
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Debby
non-member comment
holy halibutt
80 lbs. is BIG! Loved this blog/report. Very interesting to contemplate life in other environments...especially like the road kill list, so logical! thanks Melisse!