Savor Bristol Bay Salmon Week in Seattle, Washington

by
November 13, 2009

For Immediate Release
Nov. 13, 2009

Contacts:
Paula Dobbyn, Communications Director, Trout Unlimited Alaska
pdobbyn@tu.org or 907-230-1513
Kevin Davis, Co-Owner and Executive Chef, Steelhead Diner
kevin@steelheaddiner.com or 206-625-0129

Savor Bristol Bay Salmon Week in Seattle, Washington

November 15 21, 2009

Trout Unlimited and Seattle Chefs and Restaurants Come Together to Promote and Protect Alaskas Bristol Bay, the Country’s Most Prolific but Threatened Fishery; Event Coincides with Pacific Marine Expo 2009 at Seattles Qwest Field Event Center

(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) — A weeklong celebration of Bristol Bay salmon kicks off in Seattle, Washington, this month. Bristol Bay, located in Southwest Alaska, is home to the nations largest and most valuable wild salmon fishery. During the week starting November 15, a variety of Seattle restaurants will feature Bristol Bay wild salmon on their menus to support Trout Unlimiteds Savor Bristol Bay campaign.

Chef Kevin Davis (right) of Steelhead Diner and Anthony Polizzi, Chef de Cuisine, display Bristol Bay salmon entrees.

Savor Bristol Bay is a unique collaboration between the fine dining industry and Trout Unlimited, the nations largest organization dedicated to the conservation, protection and restoration of North Americas coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Savor Bristol Bay aims to educate seafood lovers about the unique flavor, health benefits and sustainability of Bristol Bay salmon while also informing consumers about the risks the fishery faces from Pebble, a proposed open-pit gold and copper mine.

If developed, Pebble would be one of the worlds largest open-pit mines, located in the headwaters of Bristol Bays most productive salmon rivers. This massive open-pit mine would alter, if not destroy, the regions pristine spawning habitat and generate billions of tons of waste containing metals toxic to fish. The mine not only threatens the worlds largest sockeye salmon fishery but also the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen, many of whom live in the Pacific Northwest.

Trout Unlimited invites members of the media to sample Bristol Bay salmon at one of the restaurants participating in the Savor Bristol Bay campaign during the week of Nov. 15. (Participating restaurants are listed below.) Media members are also invited to encourage the public to help protect Bristol Bay by voting with their forks and asking seafood retailers and restaurants to offer Bristol Bay salmon throughout the year.

Savor Bristol Bay salmon week (Nov. 15-21) coincides with Pacific Marine Expo 2009 (Nov. 19-21,) the largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast. Trout Unlimited is an exhibitor at Pacific Marine Expo. Media are encouraged to visit the TU booth and learn more about the campaign to protect Bristol Bay.

Seattle restaurants participating in Savor Bristol Bay:

  • Art of the Table
  • Chiso
  • Emmer &Rye
  • Ettas Seafood
  • Flying Fish
  • Palace Kitchen
  • Persimmon
  • Ponti Seafood Grill
  • Rovers Restaurant
  • Steelhead Diner
  • Tilth Restaurant
  • Tilikum Place Caf
  • The Pike Brewing Co.

For photographs of Bristol Bay salmon, contact Paula Dobbyn at pdobbyn@tu.org or 907-230-1513

For more information about Bristol Bay, see:
www.savebristolbay.org
www.whywild.org
www.tu.org