Last week, it was announced that the Trump Administration would support the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in denying a permit for the Pebble Mine.
The Pebble Mine has been a galvanizing topic in conservation, engendering support from a broad coalition. If the mine had been built, it would’ve created an enormous open-pit operation at the headwaters of the most prolific sockeye salmon fishery on the planet.
In a press release, Wild Salmon Center President and CEO Guido Rahr said, “We applaud this decision to protect America’s greatest salmon stronghold, a place that supports tens of thousands of American fishing jobs and is revered by sportsmen and women across the nation.”
Wild Salmon Center notes that Bristol Bay is home to 40 million returning wild sockeye salmon, which are worth $2.2 billion each year in economic impact. That’s not taking into account the excellent trout, grayling, and char fishing throughout the region.
While the Trump Administration stands behind the decision not to allow the mine, the mine’s backers have filed an appeal. Northern Dynasty, the company behind Pebble Mine, challenged the federal government in late 2024 with a lawsuit. Wild Salmon Center says the lawsuit flies in the face of 63% of Alaskans who don’t want mining in Bristol Bay.
That lawsuit will play out in the court system, which is why Wild Salmon Center has joined the government’s defense.
“Wild Salmon Center has joined the government’s case to defend both decisions and ensure that the toxic Pebble Mine project never again puts Bristol Bay at risk,” the group said in a press release.
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