A delegation of native Alaskans and commercial fishermen will head to London next week to confront mining industry giant Anglo American PLC about the controversial Pebble mine project.

According to a press release issued on Monday, the delegation will attend the company’s April 15 shareholders’ meeting and has requested a meeting with Anglo American Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Carroll.

The proposal for the Pebble mine calls for construction of the world’s largest open-pit copper and gold mine in North America, extending over more than 30 square miles of the Bristol Bay watershed.

The plan has raised the ire of many Alaskans–and some key jewelry industry players–because, according to the release, some of the world’s most productive salmon spawning rivers flow into Bristol Bay, which supports the biggest commercial sockeye fishery in the world.

The Alaskans contend that London-based Anglo American doesn’t understand the depth of the opposition to the mine, which would damage the fishery beyond repair and, in turn, impair the cultures that depend on the fishery for survival.

In addition, because of the mine’s potential effect on the ecosystem, retail jewelers including Ben Bridge Jeweler, Helzberg Diamonds, Chicago independent Leber Jeweler and Tiffany and Co. have pledged to boycott gold from this mine.

Anglo American, however, has contended that the mine would bring much-needed jobs to the area.

In August, voters in Alaska rejected a measure that would have blocked development of the mine.

The mine currently remains in the “pre-feasibility” and “pre-permitting” stage of development, according to PebblePartnership.com, the site maintained by Anglo American and its partners in the Pebble mine venture, Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.

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