Key Alaskan Fishery in Good Hands

Bristol Bay Map. WWF International Arctic Programme.

Alaska's watershed flowing into Bristol Bay is the most productive sockeye salmon fishery. Millions of salmon are harvested annually, and there are plenty to fill the streams. Penetrating deep into wilderness areas these streams of salmon feed the forests and their inhabitants. The Pebble Mine also plans to penetrate deep into this wilderness by digging the largest mineral mine ever planned. The proposed mine "may contain more than $500 billion in gold, copper and other minerals." PBS's Frontline "Alaska Gold" explains the drastic size, ecological sensitivity, and immense waste that would result from this predominantly copper mine.

The EPA has conducted a study on water quality that suggests the mine's presence would have very significant effects on the the wildlife, most importantly, the salmon fisheries. There is a battle afoot in which environmentalists and fisherman have teamed up against Pebble. Pebble is reliant upon money, and empty promises. The 80 billions pounds of copper that lie near and far beneath the surface of the ground are increasingly valuable. The copper industry is surging as it has become a necessity in everything electrical, and electricity has become a necessity in so many things human. Luckily the livelihoods of fisherman, salmon, bears, wolves ... etc. are being taken care of as the EPA has loaded the Clean Water Act with over a years worth of data and analyses of the region. Let's keep an eye on developments, though. It is capitalism's nature to wriggle and writhe to survive and eventually thrive.

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