LETTER: Alaska’s electeds need to better protect salmon

Countries around the world have faced devastating impacts to their economies by not protecting the environment they depend on. During my twenty years in the military service I have traveled throughout Europe and Asia. I have walked along the beaches in Pattaya, Thailand, and the Weser River in Germany and seen first hand the results when we put industry in front of the environment. The trade off is irreversibly destroyed habitat in exchange for a short term industrial investment. If we Alaskans do not upgrade our protective measures in stewardship of this great land we will bear witness to the same.

Alaska’s economy, cultural heritage, and food source is dependent on healthy salmon habitat. Our fish habitat protection laws have not been updated since statehood and need an upgrade to properly protect our most prized resource. Recently, Governor Walker and Byron Mallott denied a ballot initiative for 2018 that would add more protections to our fish habitat as our state develops new sources of revenue. I am disappointed in their decision to not support Alaskan communities who depend on salmon.

Just as industries upgrade their tactics, techniques, and procedures to maximize efficiency so too must our Alaskan environmental policies be upgraded in their efficiencies. And as of right now that is not the case.

— Martin Sparks

Anchorage