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Protect Bristol Bay from Offshore Drilling
Alaska’s Bristol Bay and the southeastern Bering Sea encompass one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. These sub-arctic waters support:
- The world's largest sockeye salmon runs.
- Globally important fisheries worth more than $2 billion annually.
- World renowned seabird and marine mammal populations.
President Bush lifted a prohibition on offshore oil and gas drilling in Bristol Bay in 2007, ending nearly twenty years of bipartisan protection. Bristol Bay's marine resources are simply too valuable—economically, ecologically and culturally—to put at risk. Through our Friends of Bristol Bay program, AMCC is working with a broad coalition of fishing groups, conservation organizations and Native communities to restore protection.
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Latest News On April 8, 2008 the federal government took a vital step towards selling off Bristol Bay's rich waters for oil and gas leasing. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) continues to move forward with a lease sale in 2011. Meanwhile, bills in the House and Senate seek permanent protection for Bristol Bay. |
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Top 10 Reasons to Protect Bristol Bay from Offshore Drilling Bristol Bay’s coastal and marine resources are simply too important to put at risk. Find out what is at stake if offshore oil and gas drilling is allowed in Bristol Bay. |
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Risks of Oil and Gas Drilling In addition to oil spills, offshore oil and gas development poses a number of significant risks and potential impacts to fish, crab, marine mammals, seabirds and waterfowl. |
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History of Protection Bristol Bay communities won Congressional protection for Bristol Bay in 1989. The ban on drilling in Bristol Bay was lifted in 2007. Visit this page for a timeline of protection. |
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Commercial Fisheries Value The area targeted for offshore drilling overlaps with fisheries that generate more than $2 billion dollars annually and provide more than 40% of the nation's annual seafood catch. |
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Maps, Fact Sheets, and More!
Here you will find maps showing the overlap of proposed offshore drilling with important habitat and fishing grounds, downloadable fact sheets, AMCC's public comments and much more. |
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Act Now to Restore Protection for Bristol Bay! You can help! Please visit our action page for the latest on how you can help to safeguard Bristol Bay. |