A delegation of Alaska Natives and commercial fishermen will fly to London next week to confront Anglo American at the company's April 15th shareholders meeting with concerns about the Pebble mine project in the headwaters of Bristol Bay in southwest Alaska.

Some of the most productive salmon spawning rivers on earth flow into Bristol Bay, which supports the world's biggest commercial sockeye fishery.

The Alaskans say the London-based company has failed to grasp the depth and breadth of the opposition to the Pebble mine, which would irreparably damage the salmon fishery and cultures that depend on it for survival.

The Alaskans say Pebble mine not only poses unacceptable risks, it would suck up 70 million gallons of water daily from streams and rivers -- three times the daily consumption of Anchorage -- and require an estimated 600-700 megawatts of power, necessitating new generating capacity.

The delegation, which has requested a meeting with Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll, includes:

* Thomas Tilden, Chief of the Curyung Tribal Council;

* Bobby Andrew, board member of Nunamta Aulukestai;

* Lydia Olympic, past president of the Igiugig Village Tribal Council;

* Everett Thompson, Naknek Family Fisheries, Naknek/Kvichak driftnetter;

* Peter Andrew, former president New Stuyahok Village Ltd. (not attending Anglo American shareholders meeting).

The trip follows a March visit to Alaska by Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, president of Anglo American's board of directors, where he was greeted by protesters waving "Stop Cultural Genocide" and "No Pebble Mine" signs.

The Alaskans also will attend the London premiere of the award-winning documentary "Red Gold," which tells the story of the people of Bristol Bay whose lives would be changed forever by the Pebble mine.

Anglo American's mine isn't the only threat facing Bristol Bay. While the delegation is in London, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will be in Alaska meeting with residents concerned about mining on federally owned lands near the Pebble mine site and offshore drilling.