A world without salmon
Weighing the options
We published this story last year because we felt it was a subject
everyone should know about. We're repeating it this year as part of
Savor Bristol Bay Week (through July 11) where you have an
opportunity to "vote with your fork" and ask for Bristol Bay salmon in
restaurants and groceries. Although the promotion ends July 11, there is
no need for you to stop voting with your fork.
We live in a world of competing priorities. Often something that is
good for one reason causes problems in other areas. We have to weigh the
pros and cons and make decisions that will hopefully bring about the
best result for the most people. It’s often an inexact science and we
may not have final answers for years. On a personal level, it’s hard to
really get behind a cause when hard answers are hard to come by. So we
do nothing.
 We’re
heading into one of those face-offs right now. This issue pits the
potential collapse of Bristol Bay, Alaska's salmon fishery, against the
development of what could be North America’s largest open-pit mine in
the center of the Bristol Bay watershed. Pebble Partnership Ltd has been
formed by several large mining companies. They have not yet released a
final plan to the public, but it would most likely include a huge pit as
well as an underground mine. It could take up at least 28 square miles
of state land and use more power than the city of Anchorage. An
estimated 100 miles of road would need to be built for accessibility and
it would cross a number of salmon-bearing streams, endangering migration
and polluting the river systems of Bristol Bay.
Photo: Bingham copper mine in Utah
The mine would mainly produce copper, gold and molybdenum (often used
in high-strength steel alloys). 8.2 million tons of ore could
potentially be processed from this area, but 99% of it would be waste
rock. Due to acid-generating properties, the waste rock would need to be
contained and all discharge treated forever (i.e., forever). We
know from previous experience that although we’re told there won’t be
"accidents," leakage can and does occur; we know that all mines of this
type located in a watershed eventually pollute surface and ground water.
Preliminary plans for this mine suggest a 740 foot high containment dam
(taller than the Space Needle). Keep in mind we’re talking about an area
of Alaska that is prone to earthquakes. No, not seeing potential
problems here.
Maybe the world needs more copper, gold and molybdenum, although
headlines haven’t been screaming out an intense need or lack of product
lately. The mine would create jobs. A new mine might be a good thing.
But let’s look at the other side of the coin.
 Bristol
Bay is the largest wild salmon fishery in the US and contributes 40
percent of the world’s sockeye salmon supply. Tens of millions of salmon
migrate back to the Bay each year (up to 62 million in a three week
period). Along with providing healthy Omega-3 fatty acid fish for human
consumption, local wildlife depends on those returning salmon for their
survival (bald eagles, moose, seals, walruses, grizzly and black bears,
beavers, wolverines, freshwater seals, porcupines, river otters, beluga
and killer whales, foxes, caribou, wolves, waterfowl, migratory birds).
Bristol Bay fisheries employ thousands of people. In addition,
indigenous Alaskan natives have harvested salmon for generations,
preserving summer catches for winter food. Fishermen the world over
travel to Bristol Bay for some of the best fly fishing; outdoorsmen
explore the area, viewing wildlife, kayaking, hiking and taking
photographs. Small businesses are supported by these visitors.
Photo: bear cubs enjoying their Bristol Bay world
 As
a limited-entry fishery with in-season management, Bristol Bay has
sustainable harvest rates. Commercial permits are limited and fishing is
balanced between commercial, native and sport users. It has worked for
years. If Bristol Bay is poisoned, it would be an ecological as well as
economic disaster. And this could happen because we need more gold,
copper and molybdenum?
Photo: sport fisherman with rainbow trout
The State of Alaska has historically approved every application for
mine development. And just to help out, The Federal Bureau of Land
Management and the Department of the Interior are moving to open more
than a million acres of federal wild lands in Bristol Bay to hard rock
mining. We’re looking at a "Bristol Bay Mining District."
 Northern
California and Oregon salmon fisheries are already in trouble; we’re
pulling fewer and fewer fish from those waters. What happens if Bristol
Bay goes? We’ll rarely see wild salmon in the stores or on restaurant
menus and when we do, the cost will be exorbitant.
Photo: Bristol Bay commercial fleet
Clean water is essential to healthy salmon; their survival, other
wildlife survival and human survival depend on it. So it’s time to take
a stand. Chefs Kevin Davis of Steelhead Diner, Christine Keff of Flying
Fish, Seth Caswell of Emmer & Rye and Peter Birk of Ray’s Boathouse have
partnered with Trout Unlimited this summer to help save this food
source. Seattle Chefs Collaborative and Slow Food Seattle are also
partnering on this issue. Five jewelry retailers (Tiffany & Co., Ben
Bridge, Helzberg Diamonds, Fortunoff, Leber) have committed to
permanently protect Bristol Bay by never sourcing their gold from
Pebble.
You can make a difference by voting with your fork and asking for
Bristol Bay salmon next time you're in your local seafood market or
favorite restaurant. This is too important an issue to stand back and do
nothing. Please use these sources below and educate yourself on the
issue and find out what you can do. No one person can make a difference,
but when all of those individuals work together we can change the
future.
www.savebristolbay.org
www.whywild.org
www.tu.org
http://www.robertglennketchum.com/
for amazing photos of Bristol Bay (go to photographs and click on
"Bristol Bay Southwest"
All photos in this story courtesy of Ben Knight
Connie Adams, August/September 2009/July 2010 |
