June in Bristol Bay, Alaska is supposed to be about fish. Not fights in court.  

But last week, at the height of the world’s largest wild salmon run, advocates had to leave their fishing boats, subsistence sites, and businesses for the courtroom of the U.S. District Court for Alaska in Anchorage.  

This month, the global environmental community formally celebrated something that the people of Bristol Bay have known for a long time: Alannah Hurley, executive director of the United Tribes of Bristol Bay is a visionary and exceptionally talented leader who has been instrumental in the work to conserve the world's greatest sockeye salmon run.

A big game hunting and fishing guide’s perspective on safeguarding Alaska’s Bristol Bay.

Alaska Representatives introduce a bill that would stop the proposed Pebble Mine and prevent large-scale mining that jeopardizes fish and wildlife.

A commercial fisherman’s perspective on the fight for Bristol Bay.

Our Alaska team traded waders for suits to advocate for permanent safeguards of Bristol Bay’s prolific salmon fishery.

This article was originally published in Fish Alaska Magazine. It details how despite key victories, ongoing efforts are needed to defend existing safeguards and secure permanent legislative measures in Bristol Bay, Alaska.

An important step has been taken to permanently safeguard one of the last great wonders of the salmonid world. U.S. Representative Mary Peltola (D-AK) has introduced a bill that would Congressionally prohibit the discharge of mine waste into rivers, lakes and wetlands that surround the Pebble deposit.

After years of review, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it would uphold its permit denial decision for the proposed Pebble Mine, continuing to block industrial mining from developing on top of the world’s most prolific wild salmon fishery.