Sockeye Salmon Research Paper

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The people of Alaska depend on Sockeye salmon to survive. They catch, sell, and eat this “red gold” to support themselves and their families. Millions of salmon swim through Alaska’s Bristol Bay every year, which attracts fisherman who are willing to push through rough fishing conditions to reap the reward of Alaska’s swimming money makers. These fishermen will pass down the tradition of living off the salmon down for generations, and with the help of their families can catch about 30,000 dollars worth of Sockeye salmon in just one day. Alaska is America’s largest wild salmon supplier, and provides over 60% of our seafood. Needless to say, Bristol Bay is a necessary and self sustaining resource that will provide fish for years and years to…show more content…
The Pebble Partnership wishes to dig an open pit mine to harvest the minerals. The mine could be up to seven-and-a-half miles wide, and has created doubts in the minds of native Alaskans and environmentalists across the country. The huge mine poses the risk of polluting the streams Sockeye salmon thrive in, and in turn destroying not only an ecosystem, but a way of life for hundreds of people. The Pebble Creek Mine promises that they will try their best to leave the environment unaffected, and have spent millions of dollars on gathering information on the area and performing scientific research. But when 99% of the earth dug up turns into waste, that promise becomes a daunting task that many aren’t sure can be kept. If the mine is built, it will provide jobs for locals, and become a valuable source of copper, which is necessary in most products that use electricity. But is it really worth it? The mine can only provide for so long, while the fishery -if kept under regulation- can sustain its 500 million dollar value while preserving the beautiful Alaskan ecosystems and landscapes. If even one thing goes wrong in the building, operation, or waste management of the mine it could ruin streams that support one of the world’s most valuable wild salmon

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