Swimming Upstream: A Fish Biologist's Journey

By David Levy

This book describes David Levy's passion for water, fish, and boats that is reflected in academic and recreational pursuits. He has worked as a SCUBA diving instructor, a fisheries graduate student, a University of BC research associate and a fisheries consultant. International projects have been carried out in Latin America and SE Asia.
Dave has both a serious side and a spirited playful side. To maintain a work-life balance, Dave spends his time on the water with like-minded fishing friends chasing salmon in B.C. and billfish in Cabo San Lucas. His wife of 43 years of age frequently comes along for the ride.
Over a span of 30 years, Dave conducted international assignments in SE Asia and Latin America, including: 1) Environmental management in Chilika Lagoon, India; 2) Environmental assessments in Indonesia; and 3) Human resource development in Thailand, Vietnam, Peru and Colombia. In Vietnam, he participated as a team member and analyzed the residual effects of Agent Orange spraying.
He served as research director for the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River and coordinated the work of 40 fisheries scientists. After the Commission concluded, he shifted his focus and presently spends most of his energy supporting First Nations in the Fraser River Watershed.
Dave maintains a strong professional interest in the interactions between climate change, fisheries management and the evolving threat from the degradation of the earth's atmosphere. He is increasingly concerned about the future consequences for our children and grandchildren and has prepared numerous articles and technical reports.
Between work and play, Dave has had numerous mishaps, adventures, happy events, joys and sadnesses. As described in this book, they include: 1) falling out of a Zodiac in the Squamish Estuary with limited means to stop the motor: 2) being pressured to drink "leche del tigre" (tigers milk) by Peruvian colleagues; 3) having to adopt the role of bouncer in Arequipa, Peru, to control line jumpers for overnight train tickets; 4) a harrowing overnight boat tour in Lake Titicaca in high winds and waves in a leaking boat with a dead engine; 5) driving a van trailering a Boston Whaler down the Nass River Road, a logging road with thick mud, and losing the vans trailer ball; 6) catching a 44 pound spring salmon in Haida Gwaii; 7) taking charge in a boat trailering accident that fractured his buddies middle finger exposing 2 inches of bone; 8) hooking and losing a large black marlin in Acapulco; 9) being subjected to a bogus wedding ceremony with 25 ice hockey friends with a hysterical ceremony orchestrated by the "Reverend" Rich Wilson.
Dave lives in North Vancouver, Canada with his wife Karen and cat Jaxx.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0G23MTVTK
• ISBN13: 9798317812454
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: Bookbaby
• Length: 144 Pages