Take Action for Oregon's Ocean

According to two blue-ribbon commissions, America’s oceans are in trouble.  The commissions called for greater care in managing our oceans and greater involvement of American citizens in decision-making.  Instead of following that lead, however, the National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to weaken the nation’s bedrock environmental review and public participation law in fisheries management.  The proposal opens the door for fishery managers to skip environmental review altogether and severely curtail the public’s right to have a say in how our oceans are managed.  Take a moment to tell the fisheries service to throw its proposal overboard!

Comments are due by 5 pm, EST on August 12, 2008

Comments can be sent through link above or to: NEPAprocedures@noaa.gov

Subject Line of e-mail to NMFS must read: MSA Environmental Review Procedures

Protecting Oregon’s Coastal Legacy

Oregon’s ocean, which has always seemed so bountiful and impervious to human interference, is showing signs of serious stress. Global warming, pollution, coastal development, and past overfishing are just some of the factors causing troubling changes in Oregon’s marine habitats and creatures.

Marine Reserves and Protected Areas are the Answer

Marine protected areas and reserves create underwater havens for wildlife that help ensure a healthy ocean for future generations, while still leaving the vast majority of ocean waters open to current commercial and recreational uses. Scientific studies of 124 marine reserves around the world have shown that, by allowing marine environments a chance to rest and restore, reserves help to revitalize marine habitats and increase the abundance and diversity of marine life, including commercially valuable fish stocks.

Oregonians have a proud tradition of environmental stewardship on land, yet we are the only West coast state without protections for marine habitats. Now’s the time to focus our attention on our coast.

How to get Involved

Governor Kulongoski has directed the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ocean Policy Advisory Council to develop a network of marine reserves in Oregon waters.  Now is the time to get up to speed and down to work protecting our ocean.

We encourage you to get involved by:

• Educating yourself and your neighbors on the science
  View Green Fire production’s latest film explaining the issue and featuring spectacular underwater photography
  Download The Science of Marine Reserves booklet
  

• Contacting the Governor to announce your support of marine reserves
  Download information on contacting the Governor and writing letters to the editor to show your support for marine reserves.
  
• Attending Marine Reserves action meetings in your neighborhood 
  The Our Ocean coalition is organizing meetings across the state. Email annie@ouroregonocean.org to find out more.