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Bristol Bay is home to the world’s largest source of red salmon. The salmon are enticed by the area’s rich, freshwater spawning streams that flow into nearby rivers and bays. The areas amazing salmon runs are threatened by proposed oil and gas leasing.
After the Exxon Valdez tanker spill in 1989, Bristol Bay residents worked together to protect their waters from oil and gas drilling. They succeeded in their call for Congress to include Bristol Bay in the nearly nationwide moratorium on offshore drilling.
Map of Exxon Oil spill and Bristol Bay
In January of 2004, Bristol Bay was removed from the moratorium, undoing this important protection for the health of marine life in the Bay.
The Alaska Coalition is working with the Alaska Marine Conservation Council and their “Friends of Bristol Bay” program to ensure continued protection of the waters of Bristol Bay. The risks of offshore drilling in Bristol Bay are too great!
Click here to find out more information on AMCC and the Friends of Bristol Bay.
Pebble Mine
In addition to the offshore threats from the proposed oil and gas leasing these waters, and the life they support, are facing threats from a proposed gold mine in the headwaters of some of the areas most productive salmon streams.
Northern Dynasty Mines Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canadian exploration company Northern Dynasty Minerals, Ltd., is attempting to develop the Pebble Mine project on state land in the Nushagak-Big River Hills, 17 miles northwest of the Villiage of Illiamna and about 235 miles southwest of Anchorage.
If the Pebble Project and necessary roads, power and infrastructure are developed, the Illiamna Region could become Alaska's newest mining district.
Read more about this threat: KTUU Reports on Pebble Mine
To get more information about mining and Bristol Bay please visit the follow web sites: