Protecting Bristol Bay the Alaska Way: New Poll Shows Overwhelming Alaska Support for Permanent Protections in Bristol Bay
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 11, 2025
95% of Alaskans say protecting Bristol Bay is important; nearly two-thirds support a legislative ban on large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay watershed.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — New statewide polling reveals overwhelming bipartisan support for permanently protecting Bristol Bay—underscoring that safeguarding the region’s communities, salmon, and jobs is a core Alaska value shared across the political spectrum.
According to the new survey conducted at the end of September 2025:
95% of Alaskans say it is important to protect Bristol Bay, including overwhelming majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats.
Nearly two-thirds of voters (64%) continue to oppose the proposed Pebble Mine.
71% are concerned about additional mining proposals beyond Pebble, demonstrating broad, statewide appetite for durable protections that go further than stopping a single project.
64% of Alaska voters support state-based legislation to ensure the protection of the Bristol Bay watershed.
“These numbers make one thing clear: Alaskans want Bristol Bay protected for good,” said Alannah Hurley, Executive Director, United Tribes of Bristol Bay. “Salmon are the foundation of our way of life. They feed our families, sustain our communities, and support thousands of jobs. It’s time to follow the will of the people and secure permanent protections.”
Bristol Bay supports the world’s largest wild salmon fishery, generating more than $2 billion in annual economic activity and supporting commercial, sport, and subsistence harvesters across the state. Salmon are the backbone of Bristol Bay and essential for sustaining Alaska’s seafood industry. They are also critical to the ways of life for the Yup’ik, Dena’ina, and Alutiiq peoples and draw visitors from around the world.
“This polling shows what we’ve known for nearly two decades. Alaskans statewide agree that protecting Bristol Bay is not a partisan issue—it’s an Alaska issue,” said Katherine Carscallen, Executive Director, Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay. “Across the state, Alaskans agree that foreign mining companies shouldn’t decide the future of Bristol Bay. Alaskans are united in supporting protections for a sustainable future for Bristol Bay.”
With the 2026 legislative session approaching, the findings come at a pivotal moment. At the end of last session, Speaker Bryce Edgmon, Representative Andy Josephson and Representative Sara Hannan introduced the Bristol Bay Forever Act. If passed, this legislation would prohibit metallic sulfide mining in the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve—protecting the region’s salmon, culture, and economy for generations to come.
This polling provides a clear mandate for lawmakers to advance permanent, Alaska-driven protections for the region.
About the Poll:
The survey was conducted by David Binder Research between September 25-29, 2025, amongst a sample of 600 Alaskan voters, with a 4 point margin of error.
For further information, please contact Nels Ure, nels@cfbb.org.
