By RICK LARSEN — COURTESY TO THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Throughout June, dozens of fishing boats pushed out of Bellingham, navigated out of the Sound and set course northwest. They joined hundreds of other fishing boats from Washington, all en route to the teeming waters of Bristol Bay, Alaska, where all five species of Pacific salmon spawn.

As a recreational fisherman, I know salmon are a critical part of the identity and culture of the Northwest.

But as these fishers will tell you, salmon fishing isn't just a good way to spend a weekend. Salmon fishing is a huge part of our economy here in Bellingham and throughout Northwest Washington.

A proposed mine could change that.

Read the full op-ed here: https://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/07/12/3076574/alaskan-pebble-mine-proposal-endangers.html