‘Ocean Frontiers’ film showing

Published 10:31 am Wednesday, September 19, 2012

“Ocean Frontiers,” by Green Fire Productions discusses the problems we face in managing our oceans and explores solutions for those conflicts.

The documentary, which features on-the-ground reporting from places across the country that are at the forefront of implementing promising new approaches to ocean and coastal management, will be showing at the Orcas Center in the Madrona Room, Thursday, Sept 27., 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The screening is presented by Long Live the Kings, The SeaDoc Society and the San Juan Marine Resources Committee.

Jacques White, Long Live the Kings’ director, said the documentary has an important message of hope. Long Live the Kings is a nonprofit committed to restoring wild salmon and steelhead to the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

“People need to see that there are real solutions to real problems, and that those solutions can be crafted and implemented locally by those most affected,” White said. “It gives us hope that our problems may be tractable and that we hold the power within ourselves to work together to affect positive change.”

The film will be followed by a discussion with the SeaDoc Society and the San Juan Marine Resources Committee about possible environmental solutions to problems affecting the Pacific Northwest and the San Juan Islands in particular.

White said the film will speak to islanders because of the challenges in this region including depressed killer whales, pinto abalone, rock fish and salmon stocks.

“There are also challenges related to marine transportation and conflicts over shoreline and marine area use, access and views,” he added.

“Ocean Frontiers” provides several examples of how coastal communities around the country have worked together to address marine mammal protection, shipping lanes, fishing, reef habitats and fish populations, water quality and marine livelihoods.

“In all of Puget Sound, it is perhaps most relevant to the San Juans, and the efforts to designate a Marine Stewardship Area here are actually mentioned in the film,” White said.

The screening is free, suggested donation is $5. For more info, visit http://ocean-frontiers.org/.