Bristol Bay Forever Act, Explained

Permanently protecting Bristol Bay from mines like Pebble

Tragically, wild salmon runs are diminishing around Alaska, but Bristol Bay’s remain strong.

In a highly-controversial diversion from past plans, nearly 20 years ago Bristol Bay was carved up into a mining district. Now, more than 20 mining claims in the region leave Bristol Bay’s fish habitat and sacred ways of life at risk.

Introducing:

“An Act prohibiting certain mining activities within the watershed of the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve.”

This bill (HB 233) would protect the entirety of the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve from large-scale mines like Pebble.

The legislation would ban the type of mining that is most harmful to salmon, called metallic sulfide mining, throughout the existing Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve.

What does the bill do?

State-Based Protection:

Though great progress has been made to stop Pebble, with ongoing mining threats, and lawsuits challenging EPA protections, the need for comprehensive salmon protections made by the State of Alaska has never been greater.

Wider Geographic Protections:

This bill would ensure all rivers and streams in the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve remain free from harmful and toxic mining activities like those proposed at Pebble, and protect salmon permanently. Existing federal protections are important, but only apply to the Pebble deposit, leaving the rest of the Fisheries Reserve at risk from more than 20 active mining claims.

What is the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve?

The Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve was established by the Alaska Legislature with Governor Jay Hammond's leadership in 1972, marking more than a half century of state-based efforts to safeguard the unique region. Oil and gas development is currently prohibited without legislative approval within the Reserve. This bill updates those protections to address threats to salmon from mines like Pebble.

Support this bill!

The form on our website will help you quickly send a letter to your elected officials requesting they support this bill. We encourage you to edit the letter template below to personalize why you support a prohibition of mines like Pebble in Bristol Bay.

Note on timing: The bill was introduced at the end of a busy first legislative session. Since the Legislature operates on a two session cycle over two years, the bill will automatically be up for consideration when the legislature reconvenes in January 2026.

For a printable version of this information, click here.