Interview: Critical Fish with Jasper Pääkkönen

Now, much of the country understands that something which destroys whole rivers, fisheries and ecosystems cannot be ‘clean’, ‘green’ or environmentally friendly

Do you think this surge in popularity might bring with it a raised consciousness of the threats to fish, wild spaces and rivers, as people engage more regularly with them?

Absolutely, and part of the reason is that, for the last decade or so, there has been a lot more discussion and acknowledgement from within the existing fly fishing community about depleted fish stocks. Anybody coming into the sport now will be presented with that from the beginning.

When I started fishing, we just didn’t have that. Back then, in the ‘80s, a truck would arrive from a hatchery and just tip fish into a river. When the fish ran out, you would just literally add more fish. However, since then we’ve become much more aware of what needs to be done to sustain this sport and the places in which we do it. Anybody arriving on the scene now has the information about why conservation is important from the start.

As a Patagonia ambassador and an activist on environmental issues, you have been at the forefront of bringing an awareness to the fly fishing community, worldwide. Do you think that this community is becoming more educated on environmental topics, beyond caring about the fish we want to catch?

People are now aware of the threats that exist to rivers. In the case of Finland, the main threat is hydropower. In the past, many people felt hydro electricity production was a positive thing, but now much of the country understands that something which destroys whole rivers, fisheries and ecosystems cannot be ‘clean’, ‘green’ or environmentally friendly. It is, in fact, incredibly damaging. This is particularly well known among people who fish because they are the people who depend on free-flowing rivers, healthy fish and healthy, functioning ecosystems.

You mention that fly fishing’s popularity is growing, and that younger people are coming into it. Do you feel that the balance of ethnic diversity within the sport is shifting at all in the process?

It’s clear that fly fishing is still a predominantly white sport. However, just during the last few years – and maybe through social media documenting the spread of fly fishing – I feel like I’ve seen more diversity on the waters. Every time I see a fisherman or woman of a different skin colour, it brings a smile to my face. But, at the same time, it’s so conflicting. I’m aware that I shouldn’t have to feel happy when I see a black fly fisherman because the colour of their skin should not even be a consideration – but the sad reality is that it is.

We still have so far to go for this not to be an issue, and what’s happening all over the world proves that – especially in the US, where the Black Lives Matter movement began. You would think that things like structural racism would not even exist anymore, but to some extent it’s a bigger problem now than it was 10 years ago, because of the current state of politics in many countries.