Today President Barack Obama announced that under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Alaska’s Bristol Bay is not up for consideration in any oil and gas drilling.
That means no leases will be sold for drilling in the area which provides 40% of America’s wild seafood, much of which is provided by the nearly $2 billion annual commercial fishing industry.
President Obama made the announcement via video.
[ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH9mXrB2sWA”]
Sen. Lisa Murkowski responded by saying: “Given the lack of interest by industry and the public divide over allowing oil and gas exploration in this area, I am not objecting to this decision at this time, I think we all recognize that these are some of our state’s richest fishing waters. What I do not understand is why this decision could not be made within the context of the administration’s upcoming plan for offshore leasing – or at least announced at the same time.”
