Proposed marine reserve sites now posted online

NEWPORT, Ore. -- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has posted for public review the maps and descriptions of proposed marine reserves and protected areas on its marine reserves website (www.oregonocean.info/marinereserves).

ODFW received the final marine reserve recommendations from three local community teams that considered proposed reserves at Cape Perpetua near Florence, Cascade Head near Lincoln City and Cape Falcon near Manzanita.

According to Cristen Don, ODFW marine scientist, the recommendations for the Cape Perpetua and Cascade Head reserves were made with the strong support of the local community teams. Each is a compromise proposal that includes a marine reserve and less restrictive protected areas.

The community team considering the Cape Falcon site was unable to agree upon a compromise and narrowly adopted the original marine reserve proposal forwarded for further evaluation to the team by the Ocean Policy Advisory Council, Don added.

“All members of the team were able to support some form of a marine reserve at Cape Falcon,” Don said. “But in the end members of the team couldn’t reach full agreement on the exact size, shape and conditions for the reserve.”

“It was not an easy task reaching compromise recommendations,” Don added. “We need to commend the members of all three of the local community teams for their perseverance and willingness to work together to reach compromises.”

ODFW will consult with scientists on the Science and Technical Advisory Committee before taking their recommendations to OPAC in December for additional review.  The agency will make its final recommendations to the Governor and Oregon Legislature in time for the next Legislative session.

According to Don, the Governor and Legislature are expected to consider funding and additional policy direction before any sites are designated.

Public comment on the proposed marine reserves will be accepted throughout this process and should be submitted through the Oregon Marine Reserves website at www.oregonocean.info/marinereserves. Members of the public also will be able to comment at the upcoming OPAC meeting on Dec. 6-7 at the Hallmark Resort, 744 SW Elizabeth St., Newport, Ore.