A Short Reflection on Protecting the Remaining Biodiversity of Salmonid Fishes

Earth is faced with an anthropogenic biodiversity crisis. The Sixth Mass Extinction is the first mass extinction to be driven by a single species, Homo sapiens. In this brief essay, I briefly recount salmonid biodiversity, concluding that a vast portion of historic biodiversity has already been lost, mirroring global biodiversity loss in general. I then recount the concepts of instrumental and intrinsic value, anthropocentrism and ecocentrism, in relation to biodiversity conservation. I conclude that intrinsic natural value is an incontrovertible aspect of biodiversity conservation, and that ecocentrism is one key aspect of a truly sustainable transformation of the relationship among human and nonhuman beings. A sound rationale for protecting the world’s remaining salmonid biodiversity must rest in part upon the recognition of, and respect for, intrinsic natural value.