Alaska Salmon Runs Threatened by Canadian Mines, but Alaska Fishermen Lack Recourse

Southeast Alaska’s famed wild salmon are being seriously threatened by British Columbia’s mining interests on the Alaska-B.C. border. This area is among the largest salmon producers in the world, grossing about $2 billion annually. There are also at least tengold and copper active mining projects in the area.

The Stikine, Unuk and Taku rivers, straddling the Canadian border, are endangered by billions of tons of mine tailings stored behind massive dams. Despite the potential mining hazards, Alaskans have no say in their approval. Thousands of individual Alaska residents have been clamoring for the State Department to refer this issue to the International Joint Commission, an American and Canadian advisory body, to ensure that neither country pollutes the waters of the other.

Alaskans have every reason to be concerned: For decades, Tulsequah Chief mine, built in the 1950s, has polluted the Tulsequah, a major Alaskan river. Numerous remediation and pollution abatement orders from the British Columbia government, have had no effect.

Numerous violations were found during inspections last year, including continued acid mine drainage flowing into the Tulsequah. Chieftain Metals, the mine’s owner, has said it cannot stop the pollution unless it starts up production to gain needed revenue. British Columbia granted the company the permits. And so the game continues.