The world’s longest ongoing salmon research reveals the astounding complexity of wild ecosystems.
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Scientist Daniel Schindler and his daughter, Luna, watch the "red wave" of sockeye salmon navigate up Sam Creek, home to one of the earliest-spawning populations in Alaska's Bristol Bay ecosystem. by Jonny Armstrong
Don't take our word for it - Read the article on the world's longest ongoing salmon research from Daniel Schindler and why Bristol Bay deserves our attention and protection. Read the article.
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on Wednesday, 08 January 2014.
Posted in Article, News
A fantastic look at the life cycle and nutrient cycle of Alaska's wild salmon. These fish give us so much, it is our responsible to protect the best we have left.
From the Filmaker:
Once they enter fresh water chum salmon stop feeding and morph into an aggressive creature intent only on mating. After spawning, they die and their bodies become a source of nutrients for everything in the forest and sea.
Very special thanks to Lynn Schooler, who without I could not have made this short. Special thanks to Richard Nelson, Hank Lentfer, Riley Woodford and Henk Meeuwsen for providing additional sounds. To Lynn & Michio, whose stories and adventures inspired me to come to Alaska.
UPDATE - Shot over the course of three weeks with a Canon 5d and a GoPro. Music: Smetana - Má Vlast (The Moldau) and Górecki - Symphony No. 3: Il Lento E Largo
Anglo American has just announced they are divorcing Northern Dynasty in their partnership to develop the Pebble mine.
After five years of debate giant miner Anglo American (LON: AAL) said Monday it is pulling out of its polemic Pebble Mine project in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, adding it will pay a $300-million "impairment charge" to its partner Northern Dynasty Minerals (TSX: NDM).
"Our focus has been to prioritize capital to projects with the highest value and lowest risks within our portfolio, and reduce the capital required to sustain such projects during the pre-approval phases of development as part of a more effective, value-driven capital allocation model," he (CEO Mark Cutifani) said in the press release.
To Americans, and even to westerners, the enormity of "wild" Alaska is truly unfathomable. It is like talking about Bill Gates' money or the distance between the closest star and planet Earth; the vastness transcends our human understanding. I have spent 5 summers in Alaska – flying, guiding, filming, fishing, loving, and living. And every year, when I return to the Great Land, my jaw drops, and my fish bum brain short-circuits, preventing any worldly comprehension. Amidst it all, the subtlest miracles are occurring. Millions of salmon are running to their spawning grounds, balls of smolt are fleeing to the sea, and a pure and intact ecosystem comes to life right in front of our eyes with the dawn of summer. The mystery overcomes me, a rush surges through my spine, and the only things tangible are the goose bumps. That is the infinity moment that we all seek as human beings – a truly scarce resource in this day in age.
Speak up to the EPA sportsmen and women. We need your comments before the May 31st deadline. Bristol Bay's salmon economy and culture are too valuable to risk large scale mining in the area. It takes 1-minute to send a comment.
This may be our last chance to save the best we have left.
CLICK HERE
The Clean Water Act grants the EPA authority to protect these salmon and the 14,000 jobs that depend on them, by disallowing the Pebble Mine to go forward. You can help give voice to Bristol Bay, Alaska by submitting a comment in SUPPORT of the US EPA's Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment. Give them and President Obama the courage they need to stand up for Bristol Bay. You will be heard. Public comments open through May 31, 2013. Go here: ow.ly/kAsdF.
The odds are very high that the last time you ate sockeye salmon, it came from the pristine waters of Bristol Bay. Fully half of all the sockeye at market in the world today come from here, where the runs of fish are as strong as they have been since The Beginning. Approximately 80% of Bristol Bay residents, as well as national commercial and sport fishing industries, oppose development of the proposed Pebble Mine because of catastrophic risks it poses to their rich salmon-based economy, culture, and spirit.
Bristol Bay, Alaska is host to one of the last great salmon fisheries on earth. It's our last chance to get it right the first time. We must protect this national treasure and its salmon fishery; incredible sport fishing and recreation; fishing jobs and economy; and a native way of life that's thousands of years old from the specter of the Pebble Mine, proposed as one of the largest open-pit mines on earth. Pebble will generate up to 10 billion tons of toxic mine waste that must be stored, treated and monitored "in perpetuity" in the heart of the watershed. EPA has the power to stop this dangerous project under the Clean Water Act and we need you to urge them to do so now.
Because this issue is so important to sport fishing jobs in Bristol Bay, Crystal Creek Lodge is offering a chance to win an incredible 4-day trip for two to fish Bristol Bay, Alaska. Win the fishing trip of a lifetime by using the Tell a Friend feature after you take action. When you urge a friend to comment, you'll be automatically entered for this amazing trip to an award-winning lodge on the Naknek River.
The other day I tagged our recommended lodges and adventures on the Trout Unlimited and Renewable Resource Coalition map that outlines the "Potential Mining Footprint on Bristol Bay's Wild Salmon and Trout Waters". It is clear from this image that the Alaska sport fishing and adventure community has a stake (responsibility) in protecting this region. For one area to support the lodge density and the number of reputable operations (indicated by the blue bubbles), it is obvious there are incredible fishing opportunities in this area - not to mention wildlife viewing, flightseeing, photography, etc. Many of these lodges fly out to the Nushagak River to fish it's famous King Salmon run in June and early July. Some of them fish locally right on the Kvichak River for giant rainbows. These are the drainages at risk.
Even if you've never visited Bristol Bay, stand up for a truly sacred place - where you can enjoy clean water, fresh air, and all the wild things that make Alaska special. You can help by going to savebristolbay.org/take-action. Do it today!
The Alaska Wilderness League is a friend of AlaskaFlyOut.com and partner in the effort to preserve Alaska's wild lands and waters, including the Tongass National Rainforest, by engaging citizens and decision makers with a courageous, constant, victorious voice for Alaska.
See their cornerstone website www.tourthetongass.com to see the wonders of the Tongass region. You can see our recommended lodges from the region on our lodge map page.
