2024 Save Bristol Bay Guide Ambassador Program

Meet the Save Bristol Bay Guide Ambassadors

In recent years, hunting and fishing guides have proven to be instrumental in racking up a number of wins on the conservation front in Bristol Bay. Since 2020, Save Bristol Bay Guide Ambassadors have supported efforts that advanced permanent protections for the people, fish and economies in Bristol Bay. This included the denial of a key permit needed by Pebble and Clean Water Act 404(c) safeguards. In 2024, our work will continue to advocate for watershed-wide safeguards so that Pebble- or other mining companies with their eyes on Bristol Bay- cannot come back in the future. We are asking fishing, hunting, bear viewing guides, and eco-tourism guides in Bristol Bay to join Trout Unlimited’s strategic efforts to achieve durable and community- based protections for the region.

The work to permanently protect Bristol Bay isn’t over yet. Are you with us? Apply here.

Why Guides

Bristol Bay guides have a unique and untapped position: experience in the region and daily access to visitors who are inspired by the place, and often well-connected enough to support efforts to safeguard Bristol Bay. Trout Unlimited wants to ensure that guides have the resources they need to educate interested clients on the status and history of the proposed Pebble mine, and to be effective advocates for the region as we pursue long-term protections for southwest Alaska.

The Program

As an Ambassador, participants will serve as experts to help educate staff and visitors about the history of the proposed Pebble mine, and support ongoing advocacy efforts to permanently protect the region.

Specifically, Guide Ambassadors will be expected to:

Attend one spring online training webinar with Trout Unlimited staff. Training will cover the history of Pebble, pathways for permanent protection in Bristol Bay, tips for productive conversations about the issue, and how to best connect new supporters to the cause. Training will be offered multiple times.
Plan one in-season program to raise awareness about the issue. Whether you establish a “conservation corner” at your lodge and stock it was Save Bristol Bay materials, or have a fireside chat to share the details of Pebble with interested guests, we ask Ambassadors to carry out one specific program during their season. Programs can be very simple, and our team can provide ideas, planning assistance, materials, etc.
Share photo and video content for Save Bristol Bay social media. We want to share the incredible fishing and wildlife experiences you help visitors have in this incredible region. We always tag and give photo (and fish) credits when we share photos.
Connect willing clients to campaign staff. Client casually says they work for a U.S. Congressperson, or asks for more ways to help efforts to stop the Pebble mine? We want to know who these people are, and we need you to direct them to us.

WHY BE A GUIDE AMBASSADOR?

Aside from getting to strategically help fight the Pebble mine in a critical decision-making year, Ambassadors can benefit greatly from participating in the program. Ambassadors receive:

Knowledge + advocacy = more tips
Save Bristol Bay swag
An additional title to add to your resume that makes you stand out
Networking opportunities with other Ambassadors
Short list for Washington, D.C. lobbying trips
Social media promotion
Live profile on Bristol Bay Guide Ambassador webpage
Direct connection to Trout Unlimited staff for questions and support

Who can be an ambassador?

Any fishing, hunting, bear-viewing or eco-tourism guide working at a Bristol Bay-based business in the 2024 season.

how to become a save bristol bay guide ambassador

Apply here to join the 2024 Guide Ambassador team. Note for past guide ambassadors: thank you for your continued involvement in the fight to protect Bristol Bay! We ask that you still fill out an application, to update your information and reconfirm your commitment in the program.

Questions? Want more information?

Contact Trout Unlimited’s Bristol Bay Engagement Manager, Tica Drury, at martica.drury@tu.org.

successes from the Save bristol bay guide ambassador program

In 2020, Trout Unlimited launched the first Guide Ambassador Program to facilitate efforts to stop Pebble from being granted its key federal permit. In the process that resulted in the permit being denied, Ambassadors were crucial in the following:

Connecting over 50 new hunting and fishing businesses to the Save Bristol Bay campaign. Many of these businesses signed on to a letter for the sporting industry to President Trump that requested the key federal permit be denied.
Growing our community of Bristol Bay advocates in the sportfishing and hunting community. Trout Unlimited’s Save Bristol Bay campaign grew its email list by 55% in 2020, and gained significant social media followers thanks to promotion from Ambassadors.
Building a petition signed by 48,000 supporters to the President calling on him to deny the permit for the proposed Pebble mine. Trout Unlimited’s initial goal was 15,000 signers; Ambassadors were crucial in rallying signers for this petition.
Submitting 10 Op-Ed’s and Letters to the Editor in national and Alaska newspapers for publication.

Between now and the program’s inception, the Guide Ambassador program nearly doubled in size, with 76 hunting and fishing guides participating. Ambassadors supported efforts for permanent protections for Bristol Bay by:

Testifying through written comments and via virtual public hearings against Pebble employees being placed on the State of Alaska Board of Fisheries.
Spreading the word about the importance of EPA Clean Water Act protections and Congressional legislation for Bristol Bay.
Helping fundraise over $230,000 for the 2022 Fish It Forward Fall fundraiser, which supported efforts for advancing permanent protections for Bristol Bay.
Generating over half a million public comments to the EPA in support of final Clean Water Act safeguards for Bristol Bay during the 2022 fishing season. Clean Water Act safeguards were finalized in January 2023.