CORVALLIS - The Oregon Sea Grant program at Oregon State University will explore biological, economic, and social issues concerning salmon in the Pacific Northwest on the new Oregon Public Affairs Network (OPAN). Some of Sea Grant's award-winning educational videos will air on OPAN the next three Thursday evenings at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 17, features "Return of the Salmon," a half-hour documentary premiered on Oregon Public Broadcasting and the winner of two national awards. The program offers an overview of causes of the historic decline of salmon populations, importance of watersheds in restoration, and the actions of watershed groups.

The second Thursday, Feb. 24, offers three short videos by Sea Grant. "Life Cycle of the Salmon" captures the story of the salmon's life with images that reveal its world, often from an underwater point of view. In an interview, former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber reflects on the biological and cultural importance of salmon, his approach to environmental policy, and his belief that individual Oregonians will make the difference in restoration. In "Salmon: Why Bother?" six concerned Oregonians with varying perspectives answer the title question candidly and personally.

On Thursday, March 3, "Coming Home Was Easy" explores the history and culture of salmon trolling through the recollections of 15 fishermen and women. Their honest, funny, and thoughtful stories put a personal face on the business of fishing. So does historic footage and photographs taken by the trollers themselves, which mixes with contemporary footage in this award-winning documentary.

OPAN is a nonprofit network bringing public issues and government to the living rooms and computer terminals of Oregonians. Modeled after the national C-SPAN network, OPAN is a partnership among OSU, the State Legislative Media Service, Oregon Wireless Instructional Network (WIN) and local cable access centers in Multnomah, Lane, Polk, Linn, Benton and Deschutes counties.

Local cable networks that will broadcast the Sea Grant series include: the Eugene area, Channel 21; Corvallis Channel 27; the Portland area, Channel 29; Monmouth/Independence, Channel 17; Lane and Douglas County areas, Channel 9.

For more information about OPAN programming and for a channel locator with other local times for these salmon programs, see: http://www.opan.org. For more information about Oregon Sea Grant's educational videos and publications, see: http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/.

Source: 

John Greydanus, 541-737-9099

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