The list of Jewelers vowing to boycott gold from the proposed pebble mine is expanding. The pebble mine a project proposed to mine for gold and other valuable minerals in the Bristol bay area of Alaska by Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. and Anglo American. Is said to be worth millions however there are concerns that the mine will damage the environment and severely affect the areas precious salmon population.
Big brand jewelers such as Herff Jones and Commemorative brands Inc, Burks and Mayors and Hacker Jewelers have joined the list of jewelers that will not purchase gold from the mine. So far the 18 jewelry companies against pebble mine add up to $3.7 billion in jewelry sales. In fact the group is headed up by none other than Tiffany and Co. with annual sales of $ 1.5 billion.
The pebble project recently increased its budget by $10 million to prepare for up coming state and federal permitting.
Hacker jewelry are quoted as saying that they have concerns for the salmon population and the pristine waters of the area, also the company prides itself in using a lot of recycled gold for its jewelry making.
Local fishing groups are working with the jewelers on this venture as Bristol Bay is said to be the states most valuable fishery.
In future you may be asking where the gold was mined for that beautiful piece of jewelry you are about to buy…
The Bristol Bay watershed is an area of importance for Alaska’s wildlife. In recent months there has been controversy over an enormous open pit mine, called the Pebble Project.
The area in question is in fact one of the worlds biggest spawning grounds for wild salmon. As many as 40 million fish can be found there in a season. The area is beautiful and pristine and has largely been untouched. However this may change. A Canadian company by the name of Northern Dynasty Ltd, reports finding one of the Worlds largest mineral deposits of gold, copper and molybdenum. They are planning to build a large open pit known as the pebble project, it would be 2 miles across and 2000 feet deep.
There are fears that the project would severely harm the fisheries. The group called Renewable Resources Coalition is opposed and is lobbying the government to stop the project. The group is currently organizing a fundraising ball this November.
The Pebble partnership states that it is working with the local communities and environmental groups to protect the areas wildlife. There’s no question though that it will indeed create wealth and jobs for the State of Alaska.
This debate has been featured in National as well as local newspapers and will surely continue. The Bristol bay area produces 30% of the wild salmon and is valued at $216 million. However the mine has an estimated value of $300 billion.
On a final note though, it is worth pointing out that wild salmon is a renewable resource.
A coalition of Alaskan fishermen, Alaska natives, and conservation groups are coming together this week at the Seattle Fish Expo to urge President-elect Barack Obama to re-establish protection of the fishing waters in Bristol Bay and parts of the Bering Sea.These waters account for over 40% of the U.S. national seafood harvest, a $2 billion fishing industry, and are rich with a number of commercially important species, including halibut, pollock, cod, flatfish, herring, king crab, and the world’s largest sockeye salmon run.
These fishing grounds had long been protected – until 2007, when the Bush administration lifted the ban on offshore oil leasing.The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has scheduled a lease sale in these waters for 2011, even though the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has warned against it, fearing destruction of natural habitat and subsequent damage to regional economies.The sale is opposed by a number of diverse groups, including the Alaska Marine Conservation Council and the World Wildlife Fund.Others cite the infamously bad weather as an argument against drilling, suggesting that the operations would be too dangerous for employees and too unstable for safe oil containment purposes.The MMS has refused a public forum on the topic.Meanwhile, the Alaska Independent Fishermen’s Marketing Association (AIFMA) and others continue to fight for the reinstatement of the protection of the region.
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