Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

October 5, 2010 Newsletter

Wow, summer is now officially in the rear-view window. I hope yours was a good one. School and football seasons have begun. Hunting seasons are either underway or rapidly approaching depending on your locale. Some of the best fishing of the year is still to be had. Best wishes for a safe and successful season on the water and in the fields and marshes.

Before hitting the news items, I want to announce a very special event. On Thursday, October 7 the Orvis retail store in Dallas, TX will feature SAA and the Bristol Bay campaign as part of their monthly Conservation Night event. Full details can be found here including how you can bid on a trip to the Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge on the Kvichak River and the #1 of 100 limited edition “No Pebble Mine” reel from Abel. You do not need to be present to bid – send a sealed bid to the Orvis staff in Dallas!

Here are some of the news highlights from the past month or so. As always, there’s much more found at the Latest News page on the SAA site.

Bristol Bay: Keeping the Pressure on the EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency continues to review the situation in Bristol Bay relative to mining threats. The Department of Interior, last April, placed the North Aleutian Basin (aka offshore Bristol Bay waters) off limits to oil and gas development, citing Bristol Bay’s fishery and wildlife values as a “national treasure we must protect” in the words of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. In September, a group of Bristol Bay Natives and commercial fishermen traveled to Washington, DC to meet with officials, asking for protection of the Nushagak and Kvichak drainages under the Clean Water Act. SAA is working on a letter to the EPA from hundreds of sport fishing and hunting organizations and businesses, in support of the same action.

Bristol Bay: Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide Academy a Success

SAA has worked with several other groups to help support and promote the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy. In early August, nine rural Bristol Bay youth gathered on the banks of the Nushagak River to learn the skills necessary to become involved with the sport fishing industry in southwest Alaska. More coverage is coming in some major sporting publications, but for now you can check out a great slide show and account in the Alaska Dispatch. Thanks to SAA supporters Far Bank Enterprises, Umpqua Feather Merchants, Mustad hooks, and Kirk Deeter from Field & Stream’s FlyTalk blog and Angling Trade magazine for their support of the academy.

Bristol Bay: Two Online Petitions to Take Action

If you want to lend your voice online, you’ve got two options currently ongoing. First, you can ask UK-based Signet Group (parent company of Kay Jewelers and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry) to join the dozens of other major jewelry retailers by signing the Bristol Bay Protection Pledge. Then, tell Anglo American that Bristol Bay is too valuable to risk with their Pebble Mine project.

Bristol Bay: SAA Featured in Media Coverage

A number of good media hits recently featured the SAA. An award-winning fisheries writer gave coverage to the Bristol Bay campaign on ESPN Outdoors. You can listen to three short interview segments with SAA Director Scott Hed on Wired2Fish Radio which airs on 300 stations nationwide – segments found on September 13, 14, and 15. Finally, a new online fishing and conservation magazine included a short piece from the SAA as part of over 150 digital pages (!) of Bristol Bay narrative and beautiful imagery. Check out Pool 32 magazine.

Bristol Bay: Hunting Support Continues to Grow

On Target magazine recently provided SAA and the Bristol Bay campaign with a two-page ad spread, featuring the debut of the new hunting industry logo ad. With the fishing industry support ad now topping 170 supporters, SAA is working to engage more companies in the sport hunting industry to show their support for the game and fish of southwest Alaska. Check out the ad on pp. 54-55, and you’ll see some well-known brands already on board!

Tongass National Forest: Sealaska Lands Bill Still Alive

S. 881, the “Sealaska Lands Bill,” remains a very controversial piece of legislation as it would transfer federal public lands to a private corporation for clearcut logging and other development. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently was defeated in the Republican primary election, throwing some uncertainty into the fate of this legislation since she is currently running a write-in campaign against Republican nominee Joe Miller and Democrat nominee Scott McAdams. Read several takes on what may transpire in the face of an unsettled election, as it relates to S.881. Coverage found in Bloomberg Businessweek, the Juneau Empire, and on KFSK radio.

Donate to SAA

SAA is grateful for the generous support of individuals, businesses, and foundations. Your donations allow SAA to continue to work on efforts to protect prime fishing and hunting habitats in the Last Frontier for the benefit of current and future sportsmen and women. We’re still running a few special donation promotions with the following items available, although supplies are dwindling on some items. Make your donations online at the secure SAA donation page; all amounts are accepted and appreciated! For donations of the following amounts, please indicate what item you’d like to receive in the “comment” box on the donation page.

• $15 – Abel “No Pebble Mine” coaster for your favorite beverage
• $25 – Red Gold documentary on DVD (recently named one of the Top 25 nature documentaries of all time by Outside magazine)
• $25 – Ray Troll art “Over Our Dead Salmon” t-shirt (specify L or XL – only four of each size lleft in stock…first come, first served.)
• $50 – Salmon in the Trees coffee table Tongass picture book (only three available)

Thanks for whatever you’re able to contribute to help secure a future for Alaska – a place unlike any other!

Follow the Bristol Bay Campaign on Twitter and Upload your “No Pebble” Pics on Flickr

We’ll be giving away two of the “Over Our Dead Salmon” t-shirts and two copies of Red Gold autographed by Curt “Ole” Olsen (commercial fisherman featured in the film) for the best pics placed on Flickr. Get yours uploaded soon to be eligible!

Bits and Pieces

• The Anchorage Daily News outdoor section has a story on the 7-pound halibut with the big payoff for a woman from Eagle River.
• If you’re planning a trip to Alaska, a few good general planning Web sites to consult include Travel Alaska the official state travel and vacation site, the Alaska Marine Highway site, and the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game site. Nothing like dreaming over the winter of a trip to Alaska next summer!
• News on the coming winter sport show season should be coming in October, so stand by for volunteer opportunities.
• If you’ve been way up North, send a picture. I’ll try to include a supporter-submitted image in each coming newsletter. This month features Rich Stuber from Big Sky Inflatables in Montana with a king salmon taken on fly rod just a 45-minute flight from Anchorage.

Best wishes for a successful and safe autumn – full of fishing and hunting adventures! Make sure to get out as much as possible with your family and friends, and introduce someone new to the outdoors. There is strength in numbers!

Thanks for caring about Alaska conservation.

Scott Hed
Director – Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

A “No Pebble Mine” sighting on the remote South Pacific island of Fakarava.
Upload your favorite at our Flickr page!

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