Enviros make another demand of Inslee – slow down Alaska’s economy

Jay Inslee faces constant pressure to live up to the “greenest governor” in the United States title bestowed on him. Extreme green groups seem to be the main source of that pressure. We have seen them demand that Inslee cripple Washington State’s economy by imposing “a moratorium on all new oil infrastructure projects in the state,” and now they have a new demand.

Environmental activist Amber Smith recently wrote a guest opinion on Crosscut in which she calls for Inslee to celebrate World’s Oceans Day—which took place yesterday—by protecting “the Bering Sea from industrial fishing practices.”  Of course, in making her demands, Smith brushes over the fact that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) already exist in Alaska, some since 1999. So, how can one man—Inslee no less—“protect” a sea that is instrumental to both American—especially Alaskan—and Russian fishing industries? By imposing extreme restrictions and regulations on fishing practices, of course.

While Inslee including ‘“no-take’ areas along the Bering Sea Green Belt in his climate change action plan” might—in some unlikely way—serve the environmental cause of activists like Smith, expecting Russian fishing industries to abide by said “no-take” areas is both laughable and ridiculous.  The only real effect of Smith’s demands for more restrictions and regulations would be harm to Alaska’s economy.