Located in Southwest Alaska, Bristol Bay is home to the world’s largest wild Pacific salmon commercial fishery, producing millions of wild salmon each year.  Bristol Bay is particularly famous for its sockeye salmon; one of the most sought-after salmon species because of its uniquely deep red flesh, firm texture, and distinct flavor.

The fact that Bristol Bay is the world’s largest wild Pacific salmon run is no coincidence. The care and protection under which the habitat and fisheries in Bristol Bay are managed has left salmon habitat pristine and intact, free of dams, mines, and pollution. Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery feeds not only the global salmon market, but Southwest Alaska’s economy and communities as well. The harvest and processing of Bristol Bay’s salmon generates nearly $320 million a year, providing thousands of jobs for Alaskans and others around the country.

Pebble, a proposed open-pit gold, copper, and molybdenum mine, situated in the heart of Bristol Bay’s wild salmon spawning grounds, would be devastating to the wild salmon populations and fisheries in Bristol Bay. If constructed, Pebble is predicted to produce three billion tons of waste over its lifetime. This projected waste would flow from Pebble into Bristol Bay’s rivers which could reduce salmon survival rates, meaning wild salmon shortages and increased prices. So, not only would wild salmon and their fisheries suffer because of the Pebble Mine, but salmon consumers as well.

Want to feature Bristol Bay salmon on your menu or in your seafood case this summer? Learn more
 

»Visit www.savebristolbay.org for more on Bristol Bay, the proposed Pebble Mine, and what you can do to save Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery

»Check out what New Seasons Market in Portland, OR is doing for Bristol Bay

Bristol Bay salmon fishermen share their story with Portland salmon consumers
»New Seasons Market article