Alaska

Bristol Bay

Bristol Bay is home to 51 percent of the wild sockeye salmon on Earth.

Welcome to Bristol Bay: the center of the wild salmon universe. Read about the Conservancy's salmon ecosystem science in Nature Conservancy magazine.

Alaska: Sailing 215x143Sailing off Flounder Flats, Nushagak Bay ca 1935. © Dave Carlson
Sailing for Salmon

This delightful book explores the early years of the 128-year-old Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishery in oral history, essays, and stunning black-and-white photos. Download Sailing for Salmon

Bristol Bay watershed 215x143Bristol Bay watershed © Bridget Besaw/TNC
The Watershed

Learn about one of the greatest wild salmon nurseries on the planet. Bristol Bay and its tributaries.

Tim Troll and Elia IshnookTim Troll and Koliganek resident Elia Ishnook looking at maps during a TEK gathering session. © Clark James Mishler
Taking Action

Bringing science and traditional knowledge together for conservation vision and action. Learn about Traditional Use Area Conservation

Bristol Bay salmon surveySalmon surveys in Bristol Bay headwaters. © Bridget Besaw/TNC
Habitat Protection

Learn about what the Conservancy and its partners are doing to directly protect important habitat.

Salmon camp 215x143Salmon Camp on Lake Aleknagik in Bristol Bay © Clark James Mishler
Future Caretakers

Young people immerse in fisheries and fishing at Salmon Camp and the Bristol Bay Flyfishing and Guide Academy.

Sockeye salmon 215x143Sockeye salmon in the Togiak River © U.S. F.W.S.
Pacific Salmon Ecosystems

How we work to support healthy, wild salmon runs in Alaska.

Measuring salmon smoltMeasuring salmon smolt during a salmon survey in Bristol Bay headwaters. © Bridget Besaw/TNC
Science

Our wild salmon ecosystems in Bristol Bay

Salmon stream near Bristol BayA salmon stream in the Bristol Bay watershed. © Bridget Besaw/TNC
Salmon Ecosystems and Mining

View selected scientific literature.

Sportfishing in Bristol BaySportfishing in Bristol Bay © Clark James Mishler
Conservation issues in the Region

Find out more about the pressing conservation issues in the Nushagak River watershed.

Spawning sockeye in Bristol BaySpawning sockeye in Bristol Bay © Chris DeNatale
CoolGreenScience

Read "A Quest at the Center of the Salmon Universe" at CoolGreenScience, the official blog of The Nature Conservancy.

Alaskan smokehouseThe smokehouse of Maxine Wassillie in the native village of Newhalen, Alaska. © Bridget Besaw/TNC
Subsistence Tradition

Bristol Bay's Native communities retain a direct connection to the land.

Bristol Bay tributaryA tributary stream in the Bristol Bay headwaters. © Bridget Besaw/TNC
In This Place

A summary of the Conservancy’s science investments in Bristol Bay.

Read More

Photo Special Features TabLion in Maasai Mara, Kenya, Africa. © Kenneth K. Coe

Close Encounters with Nature

Whether scary or exciting, nature has a way of sneaking up on you. See stories

Arden OConnor 215x143Arden O’Connor. © Lajla LeBlanc

Nature Matters

Hear some of nature's success stories and see how nature matters to us all. Watch videos

Explore Related Content

Pulling the Nets
Dive into this string of Cool Green Science blog posts by a commercial fisherman in Bristol Bay. Explore
In This Place
A review of the Conservancy's science investment in Bristol Bay. Read pdf