Nation's largest food retail group wants world's largest wild sockeye salmon fishery protected mining impacts

Washington D.C., March 12th - For the first time ever, the nation’s largest group of food retail companies has spoken out on behalf of protecting Alaska’s Bristol Bay fishery – the world’s largest wild sockeye salmon fishery. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI), which represents 26,000 retail food stores, and $680 billion in annual revenue -- three-quarters of US retail food store sales -- announced its support for the EPA study currently underway to determine the suitability of large-scale development in Bristol Bay, including the Pebble Mine. Read the full press release at - Earthworks.

Sockeye salmon in Alaska. Ben Knight photo.

This raises the question: Could we finally be coming into a period when protecting incredibly rich self sustaining food sources, like Bristol Bay's wild sockeye salmon populations, and natural ecosystems could trump the exploitation of the public's lands for gold and other minerals? Right now hardrock mining still dominates all other values and interests on national forests and public lands in the United States under the 1872 Mining Law? While few call it that, the antiquated mining law is highly discriminatory and unjust.

Get involved. Go to Earthworks to find out how you can help or join local efforts to prevent impacts from mining.