Native Alaskans, commercial fishermen in Alaska’s richest sockeye salmon fishing grounds and conservation groups are celebrating President Obama’s decision yesterday to protect Bristol Bay from oil and gas development.
“Bristol Bay has supported Native Americans in the Alaska region for centuries,” Obama said in a video message released Tuesday. “It supports USD 2 billion (EUR 1.6 billion) in the commercial fishing industry. It supplies America with 40 percent of its wild-caught seafood. It is a natural wonder, and it’s something that’s just too precious to be putting out to the highest bidder.”
As a member of the Alaska-based Fish Basket Coalition, Pew Charitable Trusts’ U.S. Arctic Program has worked with the people of Bristol Bay to secure permanent protection for their rich culture and healthy fisheries. Program Director Marilyn Heiman said the act of leadership is important to the people of Alaska and is one of the “best decisions” the administration has made.
“While many fisheries around the globe are declining, Bristol Bay’s well-managed fisheries are some of the most productive in the world, and are worthy of protection,” she said.
Stakeholders from across the region also applauded the decision.
Robin Samuelsen, Chairman, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation: “We have great fisheries in Bristol Bay worth billions of dollars because we have protected our fishing grounds and our spawning beds from mining in the headwaters and oil and gas rigs in the ocean. Our fisheries bring economic benefits to our people and have sustained a way of life for thousands of years. My father’s legacy was all hands on deck to protect these fisheries for our people and future generations, and it’s an honor to my family that the federal government has recognized his lifetime of work by protecting Bristol Bay.”
Thomas Tilden, Chief, Curyung Tribal Council: “This decision makes us feel happy that we may have fishing here not just for 10 or 20 more years, but for hundreds of years. There’s a reason we have rich way of life and productive fishing grounds here: the people of Bristol Bay have stepped up for many decades to protect the fisheries resource and the ecosystem. We have wanted this protection for a long time and this administration has listened to our community. We are truly grateful for this act of stewardship.”
Ralph Andersen, President and CEO, Bristol Bay Native Association: “We have the largest wild salmon migrations in the world coming through Bristol Bay and heading to spawning grounds in river systems along the Bering Sea. That’s why 50 tribes and regional Native organizations from Bristol Bay to the Interior and the Bering Strait region support the Department of the Interior in putting Bristol Bay permanently off-limits to offshore drilling.”
David Harsila, President, Alaska Independent Fishermen’s Marketing Association: “By removing Bristol Bay from the federal offshore oil and gas leasing program in perpetuity, we have more certainty that our waters will be safe for the sustainable fisheries that make our jobs possible and provide a renewable economy. This has been a long time coming, and Bristol Bay fishermen are breathing a collective sigh of relief.”
Keith Colburn, Captain and owner, commercial crab vessel Wizard (featured on Deadliest Catch): “The dollar signs tip the scales heavily in favor of Bristol Bay’s extremely productive fisheries and the thousands of jobs they create, not to mention the cultural and ecological values at risk. As someone who is invested in the future of our seafood industry, I would say this is a great day.”
