U.S government will uphold and defend decisions to block Pebble Mine

Today, the Trump Administration stood up for America’s greatest salmon fishery and against a foreign mining company. The U.S Department of Justice announced that it will defend both a 2020 decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reject a key Pebble Mine permit and the Environmental Protection Agency’s subsequent decision to protect Alaska’s Bristol Bay from future versions of Pebble Mine under the Clean Water Act.

“President Trump stands with fishing communities nationwide today,” says Wild Salmon Center President & CEO Guido Rahr. “We applaud this decision to protect America’s greatest salmon stronghold. Bristol Bay supports tens of thousands of American fishing jobs and is revered by sportsmen and women across the nation.”

Alaska’s Bristol Bay is the most productive salmon stronghold on Earth, returning an average of 40 million wild sockeye salmon every year and driving a $2.2 billion salmon fishery. But in 2024, Pebble Mine backer Northern Dynasty moved to sue the U.S. government over its earlier decisions—decisions that reflected public opposition to mining in Bristol Bay from 63 percent of Alaskans and millions of Americans.

“We need to take care of our wild places and public lands for ourselves and for future generations,” Rahr says. “President Trump has shown major leadership on this issue today.”

Now, with the power of the federal government backing Bristol Bay, Northern Dynasty’s lawsuit enters a new phase. Wild Salmon Center has joined the government’s case to defend both decisions and ensure that the toxic Pebble Mine never again puts Bristol Bay at risk.

Once we lose special places like Bristol Bay, we never get them back. That’s why we’re working on multiple fronts to keep Bristol Bay off-limits to any large toxic mine. Your support ensures that we can stay in this fight, protect past gains, and pursue even stronger safeguards for Bristol Bay. Join us today with a gift to help protect America’s greatest fishery for generations.