Our Fishery: A national treasure

Boasting five major river systems, deep lakes, and an environment remote from commercial and industrial development, “The Bay,” is an American national treasure; a fishery that is expertly managed for sustainability and future generations.

  • For hundreds of generations, Bristol Bay has sustained Native Alaskan families living a traditional subsistence lifestyle, and for 130 years it has supported a legendary commercial fishery.
  • From 1956 through 2010, Bristol Bay averaged an astonishing 29 million-fish return of sockeye salmon and added $350 million in economic benefit in 2010.
  • The fishery supports over 12,000 jobs.
  • Salmon is one of the most valuable commercial fish in the state of Alaska and Bristol Bay is the state’s largest salmon fishery, accounting for 40% of the nation’s salmon catch!


Pebble Mine: A massive mistake 

The Pebble Mine would create a four square mile open pit mine that requires construction of massive earthen dams to contain toxic tailings in an area prone to earthquakes. Just one of the proposed dams will be 4.3 miles long and 740 feet high. The waste that it is supposed to contain is enough to provide 3,000 pounds of toxic tailings to every man, woman and child on earth.

According to the Pebble Partnership, the mine would only create 1,000 full-time jobs. If we do simple math: fishing jobs now (3,567) vs. mine jobs = 2,567 full-time jobs potentially lost! Additionally, Pebble jeopardizes 12,000 season jobs that are dependent on our sustainable commercial fishery.


What we are asking you to do 

By signing our letter to the EPA in support of their Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment,  your organization will help ensure that science determines the fate of our fishery.

“I cannot imagine a worse place for a mine of this type, unless it was in my kitchen“  - Former Alaska Governor Jay Hammond