The Natural World and the Anthropocene

This chapter situates Woolf at the intersection of different ‘natural world’ discourses, including the typological ethics explored by her father Leslie Stephen and the fly-fishing writing of her brother-in-law John Waller Hills (often taken to be the real-world model for Richard Dalloway himself). Woolf’s descriptions of characters evince an epistemophilic propensity to reveal subjectivity most readily through animalistic, physiognomic imagery and thus ask to be contextualized within these other discourses and beyond modernist aesthetics alone. In her later works, moreover, Woolf recognized the problematic politics of such human–animal equivalence, especially when it was the feminist representation of the nonverbal interiority that was at stake. This chapter thus outlines Woolf’s efforts to move away from an epistemology of transparency and instinct and towards one of opacity and type, with attendant consequences for any understanding of Woolf’s post- and anti-humanist politics in the age of the Anthropocene.

Fly fishing no-kill zones: a possible way to conjugate conservation issues, sustainable sport enhancement and local development in Alpine areas?

The promotion of sustainable tourism and outdoor sports can represent an important way to couple environmental conservation strategies and economic enhancement in marginal and Alpine areas. In this context catch and release fly fishing zones can represent an interesting tool, although no data is available on the effectiveness of these practices on Alpine salmonid population dynamics. Salmonids are the main group of fish in alpine rivers and they are the only actively targeted by anglers. Aim of this work is filling this gap, with a pilot study on two no-kill zones (Po and Pellice rivers, NW Italy). We conducted a temporal and spatial comparison between free-fishing and catch and release management river sections, with a detailed analysis on the Po River site. Our results support the hypothesis that catch and release management allows a numerical increase in wild trout populations. In particular, we detected a massive and rapid increase in younger individuals, possibly linked to a stop on the removal of large-sized reproducers. Protecting trout by the implementation of this practice can at the same time allow the increase of sustainable economic development and sport in marginal areas.

Upper Extremity Pain and Overuse Injuries in Fly-Fishing: A North American Cross-Sectional Survey and Implications for Injury Prevention

Background: Fly-fishing requires rhythmic, coordinated movements to successfully cast a fly line. Previous studies have shown that the biomechanical demands of fly-casting may cause some individuals to develop upper extremity pain or injuries. Purpose: To report the rates, trends, and contributing factors of upper extremity pain and overuse injuries in a sample of North American recreational fly-fishers. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Participants were reached via 3 popular online fly-fishing forums in April 2019. Each consenting North American participant over 18 years of age was given a link to a unique survey that recorded his or her demographic and orthopaedic histories, fly-fishing experience, equipment, casting techniques, upper extremity pain after fly-fishing, and chronic outcomes. Results: The 162 fly-fishers included were 63.3 (± 11.5) years of age, and 95.1% were men. In total, 59 (36.4%) reported experiencing upper extremity pain immediately after fly-fishing. Pain was rated a 4.0 (interquartile range, 3.0-6.0) on a 10-point Likert scale, commonly lasting less than 1 day (45.0%) or between 1 day and 1 week (45.0%). The majority (62.7%) reported not needing to see a medical provider for their pain/soreness. Those who did most commonly received diagnoses of elbow or rotator cuff tendinitis. Pain/soreness was associated with casting in an elliptical/sidearm fashion, compared with overhead or 2-handed casting ( P = .006) using a weighted line or added weight (split-shot, weighted heads, etc) ( P = .034) and with grip styles where the hand was pronated compared with being in a more neutral position ( P = .046). The mean shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 10.8 (± 11.5). Higher scores were associated with a history of self-reported upper extremity orthopaedic injuries (B = 6.059 [95% CI, 2.476-9.642]; SE, 1.814; P = .001) and having had surgery for these injuries (B = 8.484 [95% CI, 4.454-12.513]; SE, 0.314; P < .001). Conclusion: In this sample of recreational fly-fishers, no aspects of fly-fishing were associated with long-term upper extremity disability, and only a little more than a third reported having transient pain immediately after fishing. Casting style, using weighted lines or added weight, and grip style were all associated with pain. These are modifiable risk factors that can be adjusted to reduce the risk of upper extremity pain immediately after fly-fishing.

Policing Work: Emotions and Violence in Institutional Work

We merge research on institutional policing with the growing interest in violence in organization studies to explore how citizen enforcement of regulations can evoke emotion and even, under certain circumstances, turn violent. We draw on long interviews to explore how fly fishing guides enforce catch-and-release fishing regulations in the absence of the state. Our primary theoretical contribution is the development of the policing work construct, including a typology of different policing tactics. Therein, we unpack how emotional thresholds explain shifts away from peaceful enforcement tactics fostered by everyday emotions and towards violent tactics reinforced by extraordinary emotions and a desire for vengeance. We also reflect on the constitutive role of violence in policing work, shedding light on vigilantes as a veiled yet crucial line of defense for enforcing institutions. Finally, we show that institutional custodianship can be claimed by ordinary citizens, motivated by their deep connection to and guardianship of an institution’s integrity.