Eight more EFTTA members have added their support to the campaign to save Bristol Bay – the world class wild salmon fishery in Alaska which is under threat from a multi-million dollar mining project.
Richard Wheatley Ltd, Spinmade Oy, Turrall Flies, RST Angelgerate, Coret Ltd, Vision Group Ltd and Norstream A.S have all pledged their support to the Sportsman’s Alliance of Alaska (SAA) campaign. Marryat & Smith Europe have also signed up.
Scot Hed, SAA director, made a heartfelt plea and presentation to the exhibitors and visitors to the EFTTEX show in Rome, to ask the European fishing tackle trade to oppose the mining project.
The Pebble Partnership, comprised of the world’s second largest multinational mining corporation, Anglo American, in partnership with mining junior Northern Dynasty, wants to create one of North America’s largest open-pit gold-copper mega mines within a much larger potential mining district in the headwaters of Bristol Bay.
The Pebble Mine complex, covering some 15 square miles, would include the largest dam in the world, larger than Three Gorges Dam in China, made of earth not concrete, to hold back the toxic waste created in the mining process.
The proposed Pebble Mine site lies on state land in the heart of world class trout and salmon streams; a land veined with brooks and rivulets, riddled with pools and puddles.
In addition, Bristol Bay is home to the world’s largest commercial wild salmon fishery. Many of these fish spawn in the Kvichak and other tributaries in the Iliamna Lake area.
The harvesting and processing of Bristol Bay fish generates nearly $320 million a year and provides jobs for some 12,500 people. Sport fishermen spend nearly $60 million a year to experience the prize fishing in this area. Year after year, Bristol Bay produces millions of fish worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Said Scott: "A hundred companies in the US sport fishing industry have lent their logos to an advertisement which has run in many US fishing publications – and some in Europe have already offered their support.
"There is no cost to participate in this project, and we would like to build a similar advert for use in European magazines, focusing on the point that Bristol Bay is a global angling destination and a global resource.
"The fishing community needs to defend Bristol Bay with as much vigour as the developers seeking to mine there."
The SAA advert containing its supporters’ logos can be seen at http://www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org/Latest_News.html
