Trout Unlimited remains optimistic that the Alaska Board of Fisheries will follow through on its pledge to write a letter to the state Legislature seeking new protection measures for Bristol Bay, where foreign companies want to build a massive gold and copper mine. Lobbyists for companies working to develop the proposed Pebble mine, in Bristol Bay's salmon-rich headwaters, pressured members of the fish board to abandon or water down the letter they said they would write. As the board wrapped up its meetings in Anchorage this week, members decided to hold off on sending the letter for now as they consider next steps. Trout Unlimited strongly encourages the board to send a clear message to the Legislature that Bristol Bay, home to Alaska's largest salmon fishery, deserves increased protection from large-scale mining. TU's review of state permitting standards for mine concludes that existing standards don't go far enough to ensure that the world-class salmon and trout fisheries won't be harmed by Pebble, which would be one of the world's largest open-it mines.