Ocean Protection

The Oregon Coast
The Oregon coast is one  of the wildest and most unique places in our state, offering exceptional opportunities for viewing fish and wildlife habitat.  It hosts vast underwater kelp forests, similar to old growth forests, which teem with wildlife. To learn more about this important underwater environment, read Stephen Karakashian's Oregon's Coastal Ocean: A Guided Tour
 
The Challenge       
Yet the Oregon coast and these important underwater habitats are in danger from  global-warming, oil spills, coastal development and overfishing.   As with Oregon’s land-based habitat, we need to manage our marine habitat in a manner that sustains and restores this great legacy. 

The Latest Developments 
In an exciting development in ocean news, the governors of California, Oregon and Washington have announced a new, coordinated approach.  Their plan will be based on new work as well as existing efforts, including Governor Kulongoski's 2005 directive to the Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) to recommend a network of less than ten marine reserves.

What is a Marine reserve, what is a Marine Protected Area?

Marine reserves are areas in the ocean that fully protect fish, wildlife and their habitats from destruction within their borders.  Marine Protected Areas are places in the ocean set aside to either fully (through a marine reserve) or partially protect fish, wildlife and their within their borders.  A continuum of protection of fish, wildlife and their habitats can exists within a designated area that has both levels of protection.

What are the benefits of Marine Reserves in Oregon’s territorial seas?

• Marine reserves provide insurance. Reserves offer protection for our ocean resources, or resilience, from human-caused impacts.  .

• Marine reserves provide places where fish can feed breed and thrive.

• Marine reserves provide a living and dynamic laboratory for research and education by providing a benchmark to assess the effects of fishing, oil drilling and other human induced impacts.

What does the Science Community tell us about Marine Reserves?
Scientists have studied the performance of more than 120 marine reserves of many different sizes in a variety of temperate and tropical habitats. A comprehensive review of marine reserves reveal that most week-regulated marine reserves result in relatively large, rapid and long-lasting increases in population size, number of species and reproductive output of marine animals and plants. The review found that the average biomass or weight of all animals and plants studied. is more than four times large in reserves than in unprotected areas.

What can I do to help ensure that Oregon establishes a network of Marine Reserves?
The Governors office, the Division of State Lands and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife make the decisions that affect Oregon’s oceans, but we all the the responsibiliuty to advise them and the Ocean Policy Advisory Council(we need to link to what this is)
On what we think is needed to make Oregon’s ocean’s healthy, and resilient. Portland Audubon promotes a transparent and fair process that includes all ocean users from across Oregon. We urge you to share your comments to the Governors Office, and  state agencies,letting them know that you are in favor of establishing a network of reserves to protect our ocean’s fish, marine wildlife, birds and the habitats they depend upon.

What We are Doing

• We helped to establish Our Ocean, an alliance of  organizations working together to promote ecosystem-based management in the Pacific Ocean off of Oregon's coast.
• We are actively contributing to the work of the Ocean Policy Advisory Council that is charged with the responsibility of assessing Governor Kulongowki's  sanctuary and marine reserve proposals.
• We are  bringing together  scientists, fishermen and members of Our Ocean to work collaborativelly on  strategies  to protect biodiversity, achieve sustainable fisheries, and promote healthy coastal economies.

How Can You Get Involved?