Bristol Bay Fate May Hinge on Tuesday Vote

A Tuesday vote, in which Alaskans will vote on Measure 4, an initiative to increase protections for salmon streams, may become the deciding factor in a battle between fishermen and proponents of the Pebble Mine project. “Television, radio and Internet advertisements on both sides have evoked things like exploding mine sites, vibrant red sockeye, sturdy-looking miners worried about their jobs and sturdy-looking fishermen worried about their jobs. Jewelers, including Tiffany & Company, have pledged not to use gold from Pebble Mine, while some powerful corporations run by Alaska Native groups say the mine is crucial to the rural economy.” William Yardley in The New York Times.