Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Price of Gold: Alaska's Salmon

Fear region's resource will be devastated

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 25, 2007 7:04 AM CST
Email

(Newser) – The world's largest sockeye salmon fishery, located in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska, is threatened with destruction by a proposed gold mine, which could become the biggest in North America. The planned Pebble Mine has polarized the state; mining companies, on the one hand, and environmentalists and commercial fishing interests, on the other, are waging fierce lobbying campaigns, the Washington Post reports.

The target is a native Alaskan community of a few thousand whose traditional lifestyle is heavily dependent on sockeye, but  who are also attracted to potential jobs. "If we can't show to the satisfaction of the local people that we can protect the fisheries, we will not advance this project," said a mining company spokesman.

A proposed giant gold mine 160 miles south west of Anchorage Alaska would produce millions of tons of waste, devastate the region's salmon fishery and make drastic inroads into traditional ways of life in the region.
A proposed giant gold mine 160 miles south west of Anchorage Alaska would produce millions of tons of waste, devastate the region's salmon fishery and make drastic inroads into traditional ways of life...   (Magnum Photos)
A proposed giant gold mine 160 miles south west of Anchorage Alaska would produce millions of tons of waste, devastate the region's salmon fishery and make drastic inroads into traditional ways of life in the region.
A proposed giant gold mine 160 miles south west of Anchorage Alaska would produce millions of tons of waste, devastate the region's salmon fishery and make drastic inroads into traditional ways of life...   (Magnum Photos)
Salmon caught in Bristol Bay Alaska. It is feared a proposed giant gold mine, which would produce millions of tons of waste, would devastate the region's salmon fishery.
Salmon caught in Bristol Bay Alaska. It is feared a proposed giant gold mine, which would produce millions of tons of waste, would devastate the region's salmon fishery.   (Treehugger)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Gold Rush

Alaska's amazing fisheries threatened by mine complex
Fish & Fly

Mining restrictions lifted across south west Alaska
Anchorage Daily News

US • Money

 
Alaska • salmon • fish • sockeye salmon • gold mine • Pebble Mine • Northern Dynasty Minerals • Anglo American • Cook Inlet • Bristol Bay • Bristol Bay Native Corp

More Newser Stories

Alaskan Salmon Sick of Climate Change
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne