Not surprisingly, the mining industry’s massive public relations effort was enough to defeat Ballot Measure 4.  The factors that contributed to its defeat:

1.    The measure itself was imperfect and led to much interpretation
2.    The opponents of the measure outspent proponents by more than a 3/1 margin
3.    Voters were left confused by the barrage of ads on both sides
4.    Most importantly, Governor Sarah Palin speaking as a “private person” announced she would vote “no” just days before the vote

The fight for Bristol Bay is in its initial phase.  The proposition was an aggressive move at a preemptive strike that met stiff opposition from the mining interests.  What is next? (more…)

Alaska will be celebrating 50 years of statehood shortly and there are many who are looking at how the state has transformed over this period.  Today Alaska’s economy derives most of its revenues from Oil and Gas and most employment from Federal, State and local government activities.  Tourism and commercial fishing are next in line in terms of jobs created and economic revenue for the state, but it wasn’t always that way.  As a matter of fact, commercial fishing and salmon fishing in particular were not only the dominant economic activity in the late 19th century (accounted for 80% of Alaska’s tax revenue in 1870) but also had a large part to play in Alaska’s move to statehood.

The Alaska Daily News has a great explanation of the role of salmon in Alaska’s drive to become the 49th state of the United States.  Prior to statehood, the federal government had over 600 very efficient traps set to catch fish throughout the state.  According to fishing historian Bob King: (more…)

1/2 red pepper
1/2 Yellow Pepper
1/2 large white onion
1 cup mayonnaise
Fish spice (we recommend Goya Adoda)
1 fillet (about 1.5 lbs)
1/2 cup of Zesty Italian Dressing
1/2 Lemon

set oven to 375 and then click on the video

Between August 15 – December 31, The Alaska Salmon Blog will be holding a Salmon Recipe video contest.  We love to share with you our favorite recipes and will continue adding new videos to this blog on a continuous basis.  Really, we believe that the best recipes have not yet been posted on the net.  If you have a family recipe or great way of preparing salmon, please share it with us.  Here are the parameters:

1. Must be a salmon recipe (at a later date we might expand this to other fish)
2. Video must be between 3-5 minutes long
3. Please include at least one still picture of your completed dish
4. Video should be self explanatory on ingredients needed to start, cooking time and temperature

PRIZES:

1. Grand prize – 25 lbs of salmon from Alaska Salmon Online (your choice Sockeye or Coho) delivered to your house
2. 2 second prizes – 10 lbs of salmon from Alaska Salmon Online (your choice Sockeye or Coho) delivered to your house
3. 3 third place prizes - $50 discount on your next purchase at Alaska Salmon Online
4. All contestants who submit a video get a $20 certificate off their next purchase at Alaska Salmon Online (more…)

In our efforts to encourage an active Salmon cooking community, we will be releasing a series of our own recipes that are popular in Alaska.   Our goal is to go beyond the traditional format of cookbooks and written recipes into interactive and video formats.  We welcome your participation in both giving testimonials, your own recipes and suggestions.
Here is what you need to start:

1 salmon filet
1 can of sliced pineapple
1 cup of brown sugar
Set oven to 400 degrees.  Click on video and enjoy!

On August 26, Alaskans will have the chance to vote for Ballot measure 4 – a clean water initiative.  Supporters of the measure argue that this would reinstate stronger standards that were removed by local politicians. Passing Proposition 4 simply means that new mines would need to meet the same restrictions that are required of current mines. Reinstating these clean water initiatives would provide minimal protection of Alaska’s clean waters.

The Pebble Mine Would Be The World’s Largest Open Pit Mine : (more…)

In the middle of the August 26 Ballot Measure 4 debate, filmmakers Travis Rummel and Ben Knight of Felt Soul Media, a Telluride, Colorado-based film company, produced a 55 minute documentary film. It is a must for anyone who wants to learn about Bristol Bay, the local fishing communities and the importance of the pristine environment to the subsistence life style of those who live in the area.  The documentary won Best Film Audience Award and Festival Director’s Award at the May 2008 Mountain Film Festival in Telluride, Colorado.

The filmmakers document the live style of several local fishermen. The film demonstrates that salmon (and other native species) are more than just food for the people who live there … they are the essence of their way of life.  Even though the film provides interviews with mining proponents, the conclusion that one reaches is that one mistake made by at the Pebble mine would destroy the last pristine ecosystem for wild fish in the United States.

As an example, one fact alone makes the Pebble Mine an extreme risk.   In the past, the area experienced earthquakes which have never caused major damage.  Once the huge holding ponds are built, an earthquake could cause them to release huge amounts of toxins into this environment.