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ODFW’s Marine Resources Program (MRP) initiated the Marine Habitat Project in 1989 to: 1) address emerging management issues involving marine habitats, and 2) provide a habitat-based perspective to traditional single species-based management. The project has both a management and research focus, and is charged with achieving the following primary objectives:
Inventory and quantitatively describe selected marine habitats and their associated biological communities
Provide scientific and policy analysis to decision makers regarding emerging and ongoing issues affecting marine habitats and associated biological communities
Assist the Marine Reserves Program with evaluation of Marine Reserves and associated Marine Protected Areas by conducting baseline and monitoring studies of nearshore rocky habitats. inside and outside the designated areas
Participate in state and regional bodies, and in other resource management forums, to represent Oregon’s interests and advise policy makers about issues involving marine habitats
Develop information for management of human activities affecting marine habitats
Formulate management plans, strategies and regulations involving marine habitats
Inform and educate the public about marine habitats and ecosystems
Evaluate and respond to immediate impacts on marine habitats (e.g., oil spills)
Provide habitat expertise to other MRP Projects for fisheries management and policy
Marine Habitat Project staff are involved in a wide range of policy and permitting activities, with some recent examples including:
Nearshore Ecological Data Atlas development in support of Marine Spatial Planning and Oregon Territorial Sea Plan amendment
Study plan co-development for Ocean Power Technologies wave energy project (Reedsport)
Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Habitat Committee membership
Habitat alteration permit and Federal Consistency application reviews for the Department of Land Conservation and Development, Department of State Lands, and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Ocean dredge disposal evaluation and biological study plan development
Technical Committee membership for the Regional Sediment Management Plan for the Mouth of the Columbia River
Scientific take permit review
Administration of Marine Transport permit for transport of live marine fish and invertebrates (non-commercial)
The project’s research and monitoring efforts focus on inventorying marine habitats and associated fishes and invertebrates, providing specific habitat-related information to support management and policy decisions. Habitat and fish survey methods primarily include remote sensing technologies (e.g., multibeam sonar bathymetry, aerial photography), and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which the Marine Habitat Project operates and maintains. Project biologists collaborate with similar projects in California and Washington, as well as researchers at Oregon State University and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Current and recent activities include:
ROV-based evaluation of nearshore rocky habitat and associated seafloor communities in the Redfish Rocks, Cape Perpetua, and Cascade Head Marine Reserves and Marine Protected Areas
Aerial mapping of the distribution and abundance of canopy-forming kelps on Oregon’s south coast using multispectral imagery and color-infrared photography
ROV-based evaluation of hypoxia effects on seafloor communities off Oregon’s central coast
ROV Survey of habitat and fish at Otter Rock and Cape Foulweather
ROV Survey of fish species-habitat associations at Siletz Reef
Effects of bottom trawling on seafloor communities in unconsolidated seafloor habitats near Nehalem Bank (in conjunction with MRP’s At-Sea Research Project)
Baseline characterization of nearshore ocean dredge disposal sites off the Columbia River using a video sled
ROV Videos
Stonewall Bank (2010)
Otter Rock/Depoe Bay/Cape Foulweather (2008)
Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve Evaluation (includes footage from Orford Reef and Humbug Reef; 2010)
Redfish Rocks/Orford Reef/Humbug Reef - invertebrates (2010)
Redfish Rocks/Orford Reef/Humbug Reef - fish (2010)
Currently, the Marine Habitat Project staff includes three permanent staff biologists and up to three seasonal staff during the summer field season.
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