President Barack Obama deserves a sincere thank-you from fishermen, as well as from all who benefit from the fisheries of Bristol Bay and the southeast Bering Sea. By signing a presidential withdrawal for the 5.6 million acre tract known as the North Aleutian Basin, and offering protection until 2017, he showed that his administration heard the multitude of voices raised in support of safeguarding our nation's fish basket.

Fishing organizations joined with Native groups and tribal governments in demanding a halt to oil and gas development in the region. The economic argument pitted $7.7 billion in projected oil and gas revenue against $60 to $90 billion in fishing income, over the estimated life of the field. It contrasted tens of thousands of present-day jobs against the promise of future jobs in the oil industry, which has heretofore only resulted in a small percentage of local hire. Sustainable fisheries and a healthy ecosystem have been the economic engine for Southwest Alaska for more than 125 years and have been the lifeblood of subsistence harvests for closer to 10,000 years.

The North Aleutian Basin has a colorful history. It was leased to the oil companies in 1986 and protected following the Exxon Valdez debacle in 1989. In 1990 the Bering Sea Fishermen's Association established the Bristol Bay Buyback Coalition. Joined by a multitude of fishermen and interested organizations, we insisted that Congress buy back oil and gas leases in the North Aleutian Basin; we eventually prevailed. In 1995 a press release from the Department of Interior declared that it was "a landmark event for the protection of some of America's most fragile offshore resources."

That protection was stripped away in 2007 by President George W. Bush, and the Minerals Management Service put the North Aleutian Basin up for lease again. The politics may have changed over the years, but the worth of Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea have not. Once again the word went out, voices were raised, letters were written, and finally we've been heard by those who understand the issue. It's tremendously encouraging and refreshing to have our politicians respond in a wise and considered manner.

It is time to say thank you. We must take advantage of the current political momentum that has been so hard won, and urge the president and Congress to take the next step. We must point to the need for permanent protection, while the issue is fresh, clearly understood, and on the minds of our president and our Congressional delegation (Sens. Begich, Murkowski and Congressman Young). Urge them to pass a bill that will ensure permanent protection for waters Salazar called a "national treasure," a bill that will address Obama's own admonition to not "fight all the old battles over and over again."

With this week's announcement, 90 percent son of the work is done. The job is almost finished. Please take this opportunity to write the president and, perhaps more importantly, our own Alaska delegation. Advise them to draft legislation that will protect Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea not for seven more years, but forever.