Weekly 5: New legislation to combat invasive species

The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Tuesday on BoatingIndustry.com.

1. New legislation to combat invasive species

Two new U.S. Senate and House bills are aimed at preventing the spread of Asian carp and other invasive species into the Great Lakes.
The Defending Our Great Lakes Act was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio.  A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich.
The bills would give federal agencies broad authority to take immediate actions to stop the spread of Asian carp and other invasive species.

2. Arkansas legislature approves tougher BUI law

Drunken boating and driving could soon be treated the same in Arkansas under a bill waiting for the governor’s signature.
Inspired by a 2013 drunken boating accident, the law would combine the offenses on a person’s record, resulting in harsher punishments. For example, a person with two DWIs in an automobile who has a first drunken boating offense will face the same sanctions as though it was his third DWI with a vehicle.

3. Dropping water levels could doom Great Salt Lake sailing

Water levels continue to drop in Utah’s Great Salt Lake, and boaters there say that without a dredging project, it could mean the end of sailing from the lake’s south shore.

4. Why rising wages might not be on the way

Even as unemployment has dropped over the last year, wages continue to be stagnant. Expectations from many are that they will start rising this year, but the Washington Post Wonkblog writes that they may depend on just how much shadow unemployment is out there.

5. Solving the Pinterest marketing challenge

One company is coming up with a better way to market through the female-dominated social media outlet.