To safeguard Bristol Bay from the ongoing threat posed by the proposed Pebble Mine, a new bill has been introduced in the Alaska Legislature. This legislation aims to permanently protect the world-class fishery, local jobs, and the wild salmon that sustain them. Alaska Representatives seek to halt the Pebble Mine project and prevent large-scale mining activities that could harm fish and wildlife in the region.
Story by Tica Drury
Bristol Bay and its prolific salmon runs have been threatened by the proposed Pebble Mine for over two decades. © Fly Out Travel
The 20-year saga to safeguard the world’s largest wild salmon stronghold from becoming the future home of North America’s largest open-pit mine has taken a new turn.
On May 20, 2025, the Alaska House Speaker Edgmon (I-Dillingham) and Representative Josephson (D-Anchorage) introduced a bill into the Alaska State Legislature to prevent large-scale mining proposals, like the proposed Pebble Mine, from posing serious threats to the 15,000 jobs that rely on Bristol Bay’s salmon populations.
A Special Region Worthy of Safeguards
The immense value of Bristol Bay’s fisheries has long been recognized, especially by Alaskans. At the urging of local residents and fishermen, in 1972 Alaska State Legislators enacted the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve to safeguard the region’s commercial, subsistence, and sport fisheries.
The current law requires the Alaska Legislature to grant final authorization of any metallic sulfide mine plan within the reserve. House Bill 233 amends the current law to entirely prohibit metallic sulfide mining—also known as hard-rock mining—within the reserve.
In the years since the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve was enacted, science resoundingly states that hard-rock mining is incompatible with the region’s highly productive fish habitat. This bill is a common-sense solution created in response to the economic and scientific realities of the region. “We are thrilled to see our lawmakers pursuing an Alaska-grown solution to the Pebble problem. Safeguarding Bristol Bay’s prolific fishery and the 15,000 jobs and $2.2 billion of economic value that it supports is a no-brainer for a prosperous future for our state,” said Nelli Williams, Alaska Director of Trout Unlimited, and longtime resident of Anchorage.
The Mine that Refuses to Die
The proposed Pebble Mine is often referred to as a “zombie mine” or a game of “whack-a-mole.” Each time a new layer of safeguards has been secured, Pebble Limited Partnership, the foreign-owned mining company behind the mine, works to overturn them.
House Bill 233 has the potential to enact the most durable layer of protection for Bristol Bay yet and bring strong assurances for a fish-filled future to the region. Pebble Limited Partnership and its allies have filed numerous lawsuits attempting to overturn the denial of Pebble Mine’s permit application in 2020 and Clean Water Act 404(c) safeguards for Bristol Bay’s headwaters in 2023. If approved, H.B. 233 would significantly reduce the threat of Pebble Mine, regardless of the outcome of the lawsuits filed by Pebble and its allies.
“Small businesses like ours, that depend on Bristol Bay’s clean water and healthy fisheries, are an economic backbone of this region and state,” said Brian Kraft, Bristol Bay lodge owner, longtime Alaskan, and president of Katmai Service Providers, an organization of commercial operators dedicated to resource protection around Katmai National Park. “This bill would finally ensure a foreign-owned mining company doesn’t risk our businesses and livelihoods. It makes a fish-filled future for Bristol Bay possible for generations to come.” To support this bill and the effort to safeguard Bristol Bay, visit savebristolbay.org.
Anglers from across the globe travel to fish in the bountiful waters of Bristol Bay, Alaska. © Fly Out Travel
The Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve encompasses the major rivers that produce half of the world’s salmon supply. © Trout Unlimited
Trout Unlimited’s mission is to protect, reconnect and restore North America’s cold-water fisheries and their watersheds. Learn about our work in Alaska at prioritywaters.tu.org/alaska. Tica Drury is Trout Unlimited’s Bristol Bay Engagement Manager.
For more conservation reading, check out Fish Alaska’s Conservation Blog for more.