A Legacy Story chronicles the long struggle over decisions about opening Bristol Bay and the southeast Bering Sea to offshore oil and gas drilling. Since the 1970s, people dependent on the region’s rich marine resources have been undaunted in an effort to protect these waters. On December 16, 2014, President Obama announced that the region would be permanently withdrawn from consideration for oil and gas leasing. The federal government agreed that the priority should be placed on sustaining traditional ways of life and the high value commercial fisheries in the region, and that offshore drilling presented risks that were not worth taking.
The story is told from the perspective of those on the front lines – leaders in the region and the seafood industry, past governors and former Interior Department secretaries. By documenting this story, future generations will remember the history, value the enduring effort made to permanently set Bristol Bay and the southeast Bering Sea aside from oil and gas leasing, and be supported in safeguarding the region into the future.
A Legacy Story was created by the Alaska Marine Conservation Council and Nunamta Aulukestai. See the 35 minute documentary film or read the print version.
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