MEDIA ADVISORY: Oct. 29, 2019

MEDIA CONTACT: Please contact Lisa Leinberger of the Seattle Restaurant Alliance at 509-475-2162,

Resolution Passed Today Highlights Economic Significance of Bristol Bay for Seattle’s Economy

(SEATTLE) The Seattle Restaurant Alliance and Businesses for Bristol Bay praised the city council for their action today urging the federal government to protect Bristol Bay, Alaska and its waters from the potential threats posed by the Pebble Mine. The resolution highlighted the value these waters have to Seattle’s economy, both as a source of sustainable, wild seafood products in our city’s kitchens and as a sportfishing destination for tourists that drive sales for Seattle’s outdoor recreation economy.

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The salmon from Bristol Bay are served in restaurants throughout the state of Washington and help to support more than 3,100 jobs and $550 million in economic impact. The council’s resolution reinforces all of these critical facts and urges the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and United States Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to ensure that Bristol Bay is protected from threat by any new mining operations.

In response to today’s resolution, the Seattle Restaurant Alliance issued the following statement:

“Guests specifically come to Sand Point Grill for our salmon,” said Travis Rosenthal, restaurant owner of Tango, Rumba and Sand Point Grill in Seattle and a board member of the Seattle Restaurant Alliance. “Building a mine of this size in Bristol Bay could be detrimental to such a fragile, special ecosystem.  Not to mention other impacts such as keeping Seattle-based fishermen employed and salmon on the plates of Sand Point Grill diners.”

The Seattle Restaurant Alliance would like to thank Councilmember Debora Juarez for sponsoring this resolution. As hospitality professionals, it is in our industry’s nature to find solutions to hurdles facing guests, members, employees and communities and are proud to support this resolution.

Ocean Beauty Seafoods, a member of the Businesses for Bristol Bay coalition, issued the following statement in response to today’s resolution:

“Even though our headquarters are here in Seattle, our business depends heavily on the protection of Bristol Bay and the health of its wild salmon populations,” said Mark Palmer, CEO of Ocean Beauty Seafoods.  “We are grateful for the Council’s leadership and recognition that Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery is an economic engine that supports hundreds of businesses in our region and is too important to risk.”

A copy of the resolution can be found here.

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About the Seattle Restaurant Alliance

The Seattle Restaurant Alliance (seattlerestaurantalliance.com) is a voice for Seattle restaurants. Its mission is to develop an active network of restaurant owners, operators and managers focused on the issues that impact the Seattle restaurant community. It strives to be a resource to fellow restaurateurs and of value to the community, creates a healthy and sustainable business environment, operates responsibly and ethically and employees and the community prosper.

About Businesses for Bristol Bay
Businesses for Bristol Bay (www.b4bb.org) advocates for economic prosperity in the Bristol Bay region and beyond by advancing public policy that provides companies, communities, and individuals with stability and a level playing field.  By putting the needs of local businesses that depend on Bristol Bay’s fisheries first, we can drive responsible economic development in Alaska and the industries that rely on its resources.

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