Hunting and fishing with PB
PSHOOT HIM (, DO) NOT (,) WAIT TIL I ARRIVE –
Hunting and fishing with PB
Between Samfunnet and Eika, where the water lilies and fall leaves cast their golden shimmer on the pond surface, you’ll find Skogsdammen – an area that has recently fallen into the hands of the X-Clusive Stiftelsen PB. But what does this mean for the students in Ås, and what kind of future awaits Skogsdammen?
Journalist: Marie Tjelta
Photographer: Ben Børilden
Translator: Ida Haraldstad
Web-distributor: Martha Ingeborg Evensen
We had a sit down with PB’s Ærwerdige Formand, Casseur, and Cruise Admiral in the exclusive PB. The history of hunting and fishing in the association go far back, all the way to the time of discussion between the Hankatts and PB on who owned Andedammen. Treaty negotiations on the 8th of September 1994 ended in a deal: the Hankatts should own the ponds island, while PB should have the hunting and fishing rights of the surrounding water. Ever since then, hunting and fishing have been a large part of PB’s culture.
They are now in the process of expanding their territory to Skogsdammen. Skogsdammen has a rich fauna and a history that goes back to the start of the Norwegian aquaculture industry. “We only want to take care of Norwegian fish farming history” the Cruise Admiral says with a glint in the eye. And, of course, they also see a potential economic angle. PB is always looking for new income opportunities and have invested in a series of different stocks.
Now they’re looking to explore the farmed salmon export market. They proudly show a picture of an enormous pike they recently caught in Skogsdammen. “There was a point in evolution where the salmon decided to become pike”, the Cruise Admiral adds. And when it comes to hunting, there is a rich fauna in the area around the pond.
“The animal community is rich, including shrews and a mish-mash of small rodents, but there is also deer here, every now and then” the Ærwerdige Formand explains. The Cruise Admiral adds that they want to keep the so called “Bickja I Backen” away from Skogsdammen and that there is, therefore, an open hunting permit on it.
So, Skogsdammen has a rich nature, but what is PB’s plan for the area? “We have big plans on selling fishing permits for the pond” the Ærwerdige Formand explains, “We’ll take spirits and tobacco as payment”. To get your hands on the exclusive fishing permit you can contact Formanden in person or via homing pigeon.
When it comes to the management of the pond, they are planning to establish a special committee that will oversee the management process. “Casseuren has a lot of experience with forest management, so we’re planning to include forest management in the management of the pond” they explain. They also point out that the management of Andedammen, with a rich and diverse nature, show their care. “One can say it is a unique ecosystem” Casseuren says smiling. At the same time, they are extremely against the development around Skogsdammen. “Now that Campus East is in developing, we are doing everything we can to stop politicians and the school from building things like a sauna by Skogsdammen” says Ærwerdige Formand. It would be a catastrophe for PB’s management and the animals if sweaty students sat in a steaming sauna out on Skogsdammen. “We are working closely with the municipality on how Skogsdammen is to be managed in the best way possible and be kept the way it is today”.
So, there you have it, PB’s ambitious plans for Skogsdammen. If you want to experience this unique area and partake in their management, all you need to do is contact Ærwerdige Formand - and make sure you have spirits and tobacco ready for payment. With PB behind the wheel, Skogsdammen is on its way to becoming an even more exciting and unique place for the students in Ås.
