Who We Are

The Fish Basket Coalition is a partnership of local residents, fishermen, commercial fishing associations and businesses, local communities, Tribes, and conservation organizations working collectively to permanently protect Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea from offshore oil and gas development.  

Bristol Bay and the surrounding southeast Bering Sea represent one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. Its waters provide a nutrient-rich environment sustaining 450 species of fish, including the largest wild sockeye salmon runs in the world, 25 species of marine mammals, and one of the planet’s greatest concentrations of sea birds. Alaska Native people have lived and thrived off this bounty for thousands of years. Today, Bristol Bay also sustains commercial fisheries valued at $2 billion a year, and provides 40% of America’s total wild seafood harvest.

Oil and gas development in Bristol Bay could irreparably harm this vitally important “fish basket.” The risks of oil spills, chemical contamination, and physical disturbances to marine species are high, and the potential costs to ecosystems, an economically valuable fishery, and rich cultural traditions are incalculable. The only sensible option is permanent protection for Bristol Bay.

The Fish Basket Coalition is dedicated to raising awareness of the economic, cultural, and ecological importance of Bristol Bay, the significant threats posed by oil and gas development, and the need to permanently protect this precious resource from offshore drilling. 

Below are a list of our partners and links to their websites: 

Alaska Independent FIshermen's Marketing Association www.aifma.org	Alaska Longline Fisherman's Association www.alfafish.org	Alaska Marine Conservation Council www.akmarine.org
Bristol Bay Driftnetter's Association www.bbda.org	Crab Group of Independent Harvesters	Crabwizard www.crabwizard.com
Crewman's Association of Alaska www.bootsondeck.com	Finest Kind Seafoods www.finestkindseafoods.com	Nunamta Aulukestai www.nunamta.org
The Pew Charitable Trusts' U.S. Arctic Program www.oceansnorthus.org	World Wildlife Fund U.S. www.worldwildlife.org