A new statewide poll released on Dec. 10 shows that the majority of Alaskans still say it is important to protect Bristol Bay watershed habitat for salmon.
The poll provides a clear mandate for lawmakers to advance permanent, Alaska-driven protections for the region, according to SalmonState, a nonprofit dedicated to protection of wild salmon runs and their habitat.
The last poll focused on where Alaskans stand on habitat issues for wild Alaska salmon was conducted about three years ago. The new statewide poll, conducted by the San Francisco firm David Binder Research, was concluded on Sept. 29.
Poll results show that 95% of Alaskans feel it is important to protect Bristol Bay and that 64% of Alaskans continue to oppose the proposed Pebble mine, which would be extracting copper, gold and molybdenum.
A spokesman for SalmonState said they wanted to know if current residents, given the state’s population shift, are still aware of the Pebble mine issues, as well as potential threats from other mining ventures in the area of the watershed, and whether they would support state legislation to protect the watershed habitat.
“These numbers make one thing clear: Alaskans want Bristol Bay protected for good,” said Alannah Hurley, executive director of United Tribes of Bristol Bay. “Salmon are the foundation of our way of life. They feed our families, sustain our communities, and support thousands of jobs. It’s time to follow the will of the people and secure permanent protections.”
“This polling shows what we’ve known for nearly two decades. Alaskans statewide agree that protecting Bristol Bay is not a partisan issue – it’s an Alaska issue,” added Katherine Carscallen, executive director of Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay. “Across the state, Alaskans agree that foreign mining companies shouldn’t decide the future of Bristol Bay. Alaskans are united in supporting protections for a sustainable future for Bristol Bay.”
At the end of last session, Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, and Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, introduced the Bristol Bay Forever Act.
If passed, this legislation would prohibit metallic sulfide mining in the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve – protecting the region’s salmon, culture, and economy for generations to come.
