OCN Priority Bill to Reduce Invasive Fish Passed to Floor

Senate Bill 571, sponsored by Sen. Floyd Prozanski, was passed out of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee this afternoon. It now heads to the Senate floor for a full vote. The bill, an Oregon Conservation Network Priority for a Healthy Oregon, would increase penalties for people intentionally releasing non-native fish into Oregon waters.

Some fishermen stock their favorite fish in lakes where they do not belong, an act known as “bucket biology.” These non-native fish can end up being invasive, causing significant ecological and economic harm. As amended by the committee, the bill makes introduction of non-native invasive fish a Class C felony if done intentionally or knowingly, and a Class A misdemeanor if done recklessly or with criminal negligence. It would pull the angling licenses of the offender for five years, and would allow the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to sue guilty parties for restitution costs.

By creating tough penalties, the bill provides a clear message about the seriousness of invasive species. Three years ago the state spent several million dollars to remove tui chub fish from Diamond Lake in Southern Oregon.

Thanks to Senator Prozanski for taking the lead on this critical issue, and to OCN groups Trout Unlimited and Native Fish Society to working with us to get this issue moving.

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[Salem Film Festival]

The Salem Film Festival, which runs April 17-26 at Salem Cinema, is featuring several films with an environmental message, part of the festival's commitments to current issues and social relevance.
Here are some of the films.

Director Sam Bozzo's documentary "Blue Gold: World Water Wars," which is an Oregon premiere, reveals how we are polluting, diverting, pumping and wasting our limited supply of fresh water at a rapid rate as population and technology grow. The rampant overdevelopment of agriculture, housing and industry are explored amid increasing demand for fresh water beyond the world's finite supply. Bozzo, who will attend the festival, filmed in nearly a dozen
countries and followed several examples of people fighting for the basic rights to water.
The film shows at 5:30 p.m. April 18 and 7 p.m. April 22.

"Saving Luna," directed by Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit, explores the touching dilemma of a baby killer whale who gets separated from his family in a remote Vancouver Island fjord. When Lune seeks companionship from people, he breaks a fundamental barrier between humans and wild beings. This shattering of convention leads to joy, confusion and anger.The filmmakers become involved in the efforts to protect Luna, as more and
more people advocate Luna's death.
The film shows at 4:45 p.m. April 25 and 2:30 p.m. April 26.

"Fuel," directed by Josh Tickell, follows the filmmaker's whirlwind 12-year journey around the world as he tracks the rising domination of the petrochemical industry and seeks solutions to America's addiction to oil."Fuel" shows us the way out of the mess we're in by explaining how to replace every drop of oil we now use, which creating green jobs and keeping our many here at home. Tickell and an array of environmentalists, policy makers and entertainment notables take us through our ignominious energy past and illuminate a hopeful, achievable future. The film shows at 2:15 April 25.
"Ice Bears of the Beaufort," a Pacific Northwest premiere, is director Arthur C. Smith III's moving plea to save one of the world's most powerful and sometimes playful animals. The Beaufort Sea coast is explored as a critical polar bear habitat endangered by efforts to drill for oil. The film was five years in the making and features a colorful, cinematic portrait of Alaskan polar bears never before captured. The body of the documentary chronicles polar bear activity and year-round use of the coastal and off-shore areas of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and the adjacent Beaufort Sea. Arthur C. Smith III and Jennifer Smith will attend the 12:45 April 25 and 12:30 p.m. April 26 showings.

More information on the festival is available at www.SalemFilmFestival.com.