A new statewide poll shows overwhelming agreement among Alaskans on a long-standing issue for the state’s coastal communities: Bristol Bay should be protected for good.
According to the survey, conducted in late September 2025 by David Binder Research, 95 percent of Alaskans say it is important to protect Bristol Bay, a rare point of bipartisan alignment among Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. The results reinforce what many in Alaska’s commercial fishing sector have long voiced: safeguarding the region’s salmon runs, communities, and jobs transcend political lines.
The poll also found that nearly two-thirds of voters, 64 percent, continue to oppose the proposed Pebble Mine, and 71 percent remain concerned about additional mining proposals across the Bristol Bay watershed. That concern extends beyond Pebble alone, with broad support for measures that create long-term, durable protection for the region.
“These numbers make one thing clear: Alaskans want Bristol Bay protected for good,” said Alannah Hurley, executive director of United Tribes of Bristol Bay. “Salmon are the foundation of our way of life. They feed our families, sustain our communities, and support thousands of jobs. It’s time to follow the will of the people and secure permanent protections.”
The region is home to the world’s largest wild salmon fishery, generating more than $2 billion in annual economic activity and supporting commercial, sport, and subsistence fishermen statewide. Salmon remains central to the cultures of Yup’ik, Dena’ina, and Alutiiq people, while drawing visitors from around the world.
“This polling shows what we’ve known for nearly two decades. Alaskans statewide agree that protecting Bristol Bay is not a partisan issue—it’s an Alaska issue,” said Katherine Carscallen, executive director for Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay. “Across the state, Alaskans agree that foreign mining companies shouldn’t decide the future of Bristol Bay. Alaskans are united in supporting protections for a sustainable future for Bristol Bay.”
With the 2026 legislative session approaching, the findings arrive at a critical moment. During the final days of the last session, Speaker Bryce Edgmon, Rep. Andy Josephson (D-AK), and Rep. Sara Hannan (D-AK) introduced the Bristol Bay Forever Act, which would prohibit metallic sulfide mining in the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve. If passed, it would establish permanent state-level protection for the region’s salmon, culture, and economy.
Backers of the bill say the polling offers a clear directive. With 64 percent of the state’s voters supporting legislation to safeguard the Bristol Bay watershed, advocates argue the mandate is strong and uniquely Alaska-driven.
