For decades, the threat of the proposed Pebble Mine has loomed large over Bristol Bay. Over the years, Alaskans have stood together and demanded protections for our salmon runs and habitat that sustains local communities, cultures, and Alaskan businesses. Yet, the fight continues as foreign-owned companies remain determined to develop large-scale mines in Bristol Bay.
It’s time for Alaskans to protect Bristol Bay for good by passing a state law to permanently ban harmful large-scale mining within the region.
The Bristol Bay Forever Act
A state-based solution
We can protect Bristol Bay and its salmon permanently by passing The Bristol Bay Forever Act in the Alaska State Legislature.
If enacted, this legislation would ban metallic sulfide mining, the type of mining that is most harmful to salmon, throughout the entire Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve. Existing federal protections are important, but only protect the area around the Pebble deposit, leaving the rest of the Reserve at risk from the hundreds of square miles of additional mining claims.
Let’s take protection of the world’s greatest sockeye salmon fishery out of the courts and into the hands of Alaskans. This is our chance to finally put an end to this decades-long battle, and enact protections that we have demanded. The future of Bristol Bay’s salmon and all who depend on it is in our hands.
The Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve, which encompasses 36,000 square miles of salmon habitat on state land, was established by the Alaska Legislature with Governor Jay Hammond’s leadership in 1972, marking more than a half century of state-based efforts to safeguard the unique region.
Bristol Bay has sustained commercial fishing communities for over 100 years, providing a living for my family and over 15,000 others in the industry. Bristol Bay remains a resilient salmon stronghold of the world because of its intact ecosystem.Nels Ure, Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay
