Commercial fishermen from different parts of USA have united and sent a letter to Obama Administration urging it to protect Bristol Bay, its epic salmon runs and the commercial fishing jobs that rely on them. The groups include the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives, Maryland Watermen’s Association and Southern Shrimp Alliance. In all, they represent more than 16,000 commercial fishermen across the country.
Bob Waldrop, a leader of Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay, said that it is good to see so many commercial fishermen across America stand shoulder to shoulder in support of the most valuable wild salmon fishery on earth, and the thousands of commercial fishing jobs threatened by development of the Pebble Mine.
Agency’s scientific watershed assessment, which is investigating impacts of large-scale development on Bristol Bay’s productive salmon streams and rivers, receives good support from fishing leaders through a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. The groups urged Jackson to block a required federal dredge-and-fill permit for the mine, if the bay’s natural resources would be harmed or compromised by large-scale mining. The mine is expected to produce and store 10 billion tons of toxic waste behind earthen dams, upstream of the bay’s salmon-spawning headwaters.
Sig Hansen, a Bering Sea crab fisherman and star of The Deadliest Catch, said that this is first time ever commercial fishermen from the entire country speaking so clearly in support of a regional fishery. He added that this shows fishermen and consumers across the country value Bristol Bay salmon and will not let a mega mine jeopardize it.
