Alaska is mired in the middle of the worst depression since the late 1980s.  We need jobs.  Mining will create those jobs, and keep them going for decades.  Think of it:  Pebble, Groundhog, Donlin Creek all in neighboring watersheds.  While the anti's claim we can never, ever learn how to do both, once we figure out how to responsibly mine in conjunction with maintaining salmon runs Alaska will employ a lot of people in one of the poorest parts of the state.  

And the largest threat to salmon these days is overfishing by commfish.  Happily, the largest threat to commfish is the growth of fish farming worldwide.  Perhaps we ought to consider joining that marketplace.  Cheers -