Take action for Bristol Bay & Stop Pebble Mine now.
Bristol Bay, Alaska is home to one of the largest sockeye salmon fisheries on the planet. Photo courtesy of Pride of Bristol Bay
One of the most abundant and critical ecosystems of salmon on Earth is in Bristol Bay, Alaska, which supports the largest salmon fishery left in the world. The importance of this pristine area is a healthy-sustainable fishery that under effective management, has provided more than 15,000 jobs, sustained Indigenous peoples for time immemorial, and continues to see healthy fish returns.
This year’s salmon runs are expected to be quite high due to favorable oceanic conditions, but that doesn’t mean that they are free from threats. It means they need our protection now more than ever.
Bristol Bay and its surrounding watersheds are threatened by the proposal of Pebble Mine, a gigantic proposed copper-gold-molybdenum mining project in the Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska which would permanently destroy this landscape and its incredible keystone species – wild salmon.
Idaho Rivers United works to support healthy salmon habitats and protections for wild rivers and watersheds in hope to bring back Idaho’s native salmon runs, which historically were in the hundreds of thousands. Protecting wild salmon runs locally, regionally, and internationally is imperative to keep salmon repopulating in all native waters. Many wild salmon from Idaho migrate north to this ecosystem, and we not only want all populations to thrive but also our threatened Snake River Basin wild fish numbers to increase from detrimental years of degradation to the Lower Snake River dams.
With salmon habitats everywhere on the decline, it is now imperative we take action to protect these fisheries. Join us and our partner, Trout Unlimited and take action to put a permanent end to Pebble Mine and protect Bristol Bay forever. Read more about their work on this campaign here, and take action here.
The following is a contribution from a Pride of Bristol Bay staff member, explaining our partnership and how we work together to support healthy salmon runs and sustainability in the commercial fishing industry.
An unparalleled sockeye salmon run
Pride of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon is sustainably harvested in one of the purest ecosystems left on earth — Bristol Bay, Alaska. Woven into the landscape and culture of Bristol Bay is the principle of true sustainability. Two hundred generations have made their home in Bristol Bay, and embraced this splendid wild salmon resource as an essential element of daily life.
The Nushagak and Kvichak River drainages comprise a pristine environment that is the most ideal wild salmon habitat on Earth. Inhabiting this watershed, the Yupik and Dena’ina people are two of the last intact salmon-based cultures in the world. Salmon are central to the entire way of life here, both as food and as the foundation of language, spirituality and social structure.
In the Bristol Bay region, salmon constitute more than 50% of all subsistence harvest, which provides 80% of the protein source for those living in the region. For over 130 years the Bristol Bay commercial fishery has supplied the world with the finest, nutritious salmon on earth. Alaska, the only state that has sustainability written into their Constitution has been the overseer of this magnificent resource since being granted Statehood in 1959.
Bristol Bay fishery management
The Bristol Bay Salmon Management Plan administered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is recognized as one of the most effective, comprehensive resource management systems in the world. Bristol Bay is known as the cornerstone of resource stewardship because not only does it cultivate and protect the region's salmon, but it includes the support of all species in the ecosystem for generations to come.
Each sockeye salmon commercial fishing season, lead biologists from ADFG set up counting towers at certain points of each main river system. Here, they count the number of salmon returning to spawn, run scale samples and gauge the health of those returning, all before commercial fishing vessels are allowed to let their nets touch the water. The fishing fleet is given timed "openers" where fishing is allowed once certain escapement goals have been deemed “met” by Alaskan biologists for each river system.
Fishery management workers are present in other Bay boats, helicopters above and on the fleet radio in order to ensure strong communication between the biologists and fishing fleet. This management system has allowed for healthy salmon returns to increase steadily over the years, with a record-breaking salmon run of 70 million sockeye expected for the 2022 season. The 2021 run was also a record-breaking year at 66.1 million. The Bristol Bay salmon return has not dipped below 50 million salmon for six straight seasons now and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
Pride of Bristol Bay & Giving Back
Idaho Rivers United is proud to partner with Pride of Bristol Bay, a fisherman-owned purveyor of wild Alaska salmon dedicated to river conservation across the country. Through their Wildly Devoted program, Pride of Bristol Bay donates 2% of their Idaho sales back to Idaho Rivers United. Click here to place an order for your buying club.
While fishing season is only a few short months, our crew ensures the highest quality salmon will be delivered to your door. We work with a smaller fleet in order to ensure a premium product that delivers the same delicious flavor from our nets to your door.
While our salmon resource comes from Bristol Bay, Alaska, we are fans of wild fish and their wild habitats everywhere. We understand that salmon populations elsewhere are on the decline, and that now more than ever is the time to take action to protect these vital ecosystems and waterways for the long run. That's why we donate back to Idaho Rivers United, as well as other organizations across the US like Trout Unlimited, dedicated to protecting and restoring clean, healthy water systems near and far.
