Böcker av Nancy Lord

This study of the Beluga whales of Cook Inlet reveals an isolated and genetically distinct population of fascinating creatures.Living in waters adjacent to Anchorage, Alaska, and thought to number more than 1000 in the early 1990s, a sharp population decline has brought Beluga whales to near extinction. Original in approach and incisive in its questions, Beluga Days explores how conservation laws, management policies, and human behaviors have affected the shrinking beluga population. From hunters, regulators, environmentalists, researchers, and businesspeople to whale enthusiasts, Lord encounters an ongoing debate wrestling with the immediate need to protect the whales, as well as a respect for the centuries-old tradition of Native subsistence hunting. Beyond its compelling characters and particulars, Lord's story offers readers a deeper understanding of the often uncomfortable, often rewarding, juxtaposition of humans and the natural world.

The history of salmon worldwide is not a happy one; overfishing and habitat loss have destroyed the once-great Atlantic runs and severely damaged those of North American's west coast. Only in Alaska have management regimes and habitat protections safeguarded the fish that so many depend upon--so far. Alaskans know that to face the challenges ahead we need to recognize our shared dependence and responsibility. We need to know one another's stories and to question what it will take to maintain salmon runs, ecological health, and the place of salmon in our lives. Made of Salmon brings together over fifty diverse Alaskan voices to celebrate the fish that holds a central place in the lives, cultures, and values of those who depend on salmon for food, livelihoods, recreation, and a sense of community. The longer works by some of Alaska's finest writers thoughtfully and artfully explore the significance of salmon in the lives of Alaskans. The shorter, more anecdotal works add their writers' own "salmon love" to the mix. Photographer Clark James Mishler visually captures Alaskans fishing for, catching, preserving, and eating salmon from Southeast to Bristol Bay and points between and beyond. This book is an effort to bring heart-and-mind stories from every corner of our salmon-loving state into a conversation that will delight and energize readers everywhere.