Alaska Gold Review:
7/10
Alaska Gold effectively analyzes the delicate relationship between Bristol Bay salmon fisheries and the Pebble Partnership mining efforts by posing the question, "Can mining efforts coexist with salmon fisheries?". The docu-series introduces viewers to the Bristol Bay area of Alaska by explaining it is the last large ecosystem supporting salmon spawning in the world. Bristol Bay supports enough salmon to sustainably support human consumption desires along with many other species dietary needs, but it is also home to one of the largest mineral deposits in the world with an estimate valuation of $500 billion dollars in 2017. This docu-series analyzes the Bristol Bay dilema by providing Alaskan perspectives from Pebble Partnership, environmentalists, locals, and the EPA. Pebble Partnership views it's mining efforts as an economical opportunity for Alaska and assures that they have conducted substantial research to avoid salmon fishery damage. Environmentalists and locals have a joint perspective that mining the area would have negative repercussions for future salmon fisheries and their way of Alaskan living. Lastly, the EPA has conducted private surveys and found that mining efforts would result in critical loss of fish habitat, high risk of pipeline breaks, catastrophic tailing dam failures, and threats of acid mine drainage. Through these perspectives Alaska Gold can provide viewers with both the positive and negative ramifications of mining the area. Although mining Bristol Bay is a rich economic opportunity, there are obvious implications that mineral extraction would change the geography, socioeconomics, and salmon fisheries of Alaska. Ultimately, Alaska Gold demonstrates that mining efforts cannot coexist with Bristol Bay salmon fisheries. Authentic Alaskan gold is Alaskan Salmon.