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Heated testimony for and against HB 2965, bill proposing ban on marine net pens in Oregon
Summary
Representative Mark Gamba presented House Bill 2965 (dash-5), which would ban the use of net pens for fish farming in Oregon's ocean and estuarine waters; supporters cited risks from escapes, disease and pollution while opponents urged existing regulatory controls and science-based solutions.
Co-Chair Owens opened a public hearing on House Bill 2965. Representative Mark Gamba, the bill sponsor, described the dash-5 amendment: the legislation would prohibit use of net pens for fish farming in ocean and estuarine waters in Oregon, while preserving the ability for the aquaculture industry to pursue other, non-net-pen approaches.
Proponents told the committee that net pens are open systems that allow waste, pharmaceuticals, pathogens and escapes to pass to the wild environment. Amy Van Saan (senior attorney, Center for Food Safety) said the bill would protect native fisheries, coastal economies and the broader…
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