Katmai Peninsula, Alaska Brown Bears
Pebble Mine
Protect wild Alaska from Pebble Mine
Location
Alaska
Established
2018Partners
Background
Bristol Bay, in southwest Alaska, is one of the last truly wild places on Earth. Covering 40,000 square miles of tundra, wetlands, and mountain-fed rivers, its waters are full of life. Bristol Bay is home to the world’s largest wild salmon fishery. Each summer, up to 60 million salmon return to their rivers. Salmon are keystone species, feeding brown bears, wolves, eagles, and countless other animals, forming the backbone of a fully functioning ecosystem.
Each summer, up to 60 million salmon return to their rivers. Salmon are keystone species, feeding brown bears, wolves, eagles, and countless other animals, forming the backbone of a fully functioning ecosystem.
For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have relied on Bristol Bay’s resources for subsistence and culture. Today, the salmon fishery sustains 14,000 long-term, sustainable jobs, from commercial and sport fishing to bear-viewing tourism, while generating $2 billion annually for local communities.
Alaska
Yet this pristine ecosystem faces a serious threat.
Pebble Mine, a proposed open-pit gold and copper operation at the headwaters of Bristol Bay’s rivers, would require massive water withdrawals, new roads, and containment of toxic mine waste. All it would take is a single accident to devastate everything. For decades, local tribes, fishermen, and conservation groups have fought to protect Bristol Bay from this mine.
Being in Bristol Bay is an unforgettable experience. Every element here is part of a living, interconnected system. Approving Pebble Mine would replace this vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystem with destructive industry, putting the world’s largest salmon fishery, thousands of sustainable jobs, and centuries of cultural heritage at risk, all for short-term profit for a select few.
Bristol Bay is a jewel of wilderness, a working ecosystem, and one of the last places on Earth where humans can witness life in balance. It has no place for Pebble Mine. “The wrong mine in the wrong place.” – Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK)
The Mission
Wesp Papua Provinsi Konservasi
Our campaign in Bristol Bay, Alaska took people into one of the last truly wild places on Earth.
We traveled to the region to witness firsthand the incredible aggregation of Kodiak brown bears in its rich marine estuaries, and to speak with those whose lives are tied to the health of this ecosystem. Through powerful imagery and immersive storytelling, we captured the extraordinary beauty of this place, from rivers overflowing with salmon to bears feeding along the shores.
Our mission was to show why Bristol Bay is irreplaceable, both ecologically and culturally, and to build support for protecting it. By highlighting what was at stake, we aimed to stop the proposed Pebble Mine and ensure this area remained a thriving natural resource for generations to come.
The Results
Since the start of this campaign in 2018, Bristol Bay has seen some hard-won victories.
The Pebble Mine has been blocked multiple times by federal agencies. In 2020, the Army Corps of Engineers denied a key permit, and in 2023, the EPA issued a Final Determination that effectively prevents large-scale mining in the area. These decisions came after decades of scientific study, public input, and recognition of the region’s incredible ecological and economic value.
Alaskans have made their voices heard loud and clear. Polls show consistent opposition to Pebble Mine, and millions of Americans have submitted comments opposing it. Even major mining companies like Anglo American and Rio Tinto abandoned the project after realizing the environmental and financial risks. For now, Bristol Bay remains protected.
But this fight is far from over. Conservation victories are slow-moving and rare, and even when we win, they are often not permanent.
As of 2026, Pebble Mine is still pushing forward through legal challenges and appeals. The Trump administration has rolled back other environmental protections, creating the exact political climate the mine has been waiting for.
Bristol Bay is safe for now, but we can’t become complacent. This decades-long battle has made clear that permanent, lasting protections are needed. We must keep pushing to ensure Bristol Bay remains intact for generations to come.
Protecting Alaska's sustainable industry
SeaLegacy June 27, 2019 10:57 am