Trident Seafoods Posts Its Opposition to Pebble Project

Trident Seafoods has come out to its fishermen about its opposition to the proposed Pebble mine and reminding them to comment on the US Army Corps of Engineers draft environmental impact statement on the proposed mine.

The deadline for comment is now July 1.

Victor Scheibert, president of Alaska operations for Trident, said in a recent letter to Bristol Bay fishermen that Trident opposes the Pebble mine project because it poses a significant risk to many families, businesses and communities that rely on the natural resources of Bristol Bay.

Trident is highly dependent on Bristol Bay salmon and has invested millions of dollars in the region, “because we believe that the region’s sockeye runs are unique,” his letter said. “Unique in terms of the long history of strong research, management and abundance, the number of fishermen, businesses and communities they support, and the brand recognition they receive on the global market. With continued stewardship, Bristol Bay will help support Alaska’s economy in perpetuity.”

Trident appreciates the need for resource development in Alaska and supports projects that with a reasonable level of certainty, can be developed and operated without irreparable harm to the state’s fishery’s resources, but this is not that project, he said. The current analysis of the project does not consider the impact of a catastrophic failure and fails to study the effect on the marketability and perception of Alaskan seafood. Scheibert said that Trident will continue to collaborate with Pacific Seafood Processors Association and other Bristol Bay seafood industry participants to voice concerns throughout the permitting process to help ensure that all potential impacts and alternatives are fully considered.

Those who still wish to comment on the draft EIS may email comments to drafteis@comments.pebbleprojecteis.com or submit them through the USACE online portal at https://pebbleprojecteis.com/publiccomments/neweiscomment