Cape Falcon is one of the newly approved marine reserves. It's off the northern Oregon coast near Manzanita. The state begins data collection this year at the site..
credit:
Oregon Ocean Information/Andy Lanier
The Cascade Head marine reserve is off the central Oregon coast near Lincoln City. Fishing here won't be restricted until after baseline data collection, which begins in 2012 at this site.
credit:
Oregon Ocean Information/Andy Lanier
The Otter Rocks marine reserve is off the Central Oregon Coast near Depoe Bay. Fishing has been off limits here since January 1, 2012.
credit:
Oregon Ocean Information/Andy Lanier
The Cape Perpetua marine reserve is near Yachats off the central Oregon Coast. The state will begin collecting data at the site in 2012.
credit:
Oregon Ocean Information/Andy Lanier
The Redfish Rocks marine reserve is on the southern Oregon coast south of Port Orford. Fishing prohibitions took effect on January 1, 2012.
credit:
Oregon Ocean Information/Andy Lanier
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has released rules for three new marine reserves on the Oregon Coast.
The state Legislature approved the reserves at Cape Perpetua, Cascade Head, and Cape Falcon.
The reserves will protect species like rockfish, shrimp, and sardines that live near the shore.
A total fishing ban would apply in the core areas of the reserves. In other protected areas, the new rules would allow some salmon fishing and crabbing.
The agency is holding a series of public meetings to invite comments on the rules. The first meeting is Tuesday night in Astoria. All meetings are from 6-8 p.m.
Astoria, June 19 - Clatsop Community College, 1651 Lexington Ave.
Tillamook, June 20 - Oregon Department of Forestry, 5005 3rd St.
Florence, June 25 - Florence Events Center, 715 Quince St.
Depoe Bay, June 26 - Depoe Bay Community Hall, 220 SE Bay St.
The proposed fishing regulations won’t go into effect until 2014 at the earliest.
Cristen Don with ODFW says the state will collect two years of baseline data from each reserve site first. Underwater sleds with video cameras and human divers will count fish, algae, and invertebrates.
“We do do some hook and line surveys to get at fish length data,” she says. “But most of it is underwater, basically camera surveys.”
ODFW will also collect economic data from nearby coastal communities. Don says the baseline data will help scientists learn whether the marine reserves are having an impact.
Oregon’s marine reserves. Credit: Oregon Ocean Information. An interactive map of the reserves is available on the Oregon Ocean Information website.
Congrats to David James for his winning submission, 'Annabella smelling the Balsam.'
Share your experiences as part of EarthFix's Public Insight Network.
Oregon/Washington: Is there buzz in your community about coal trains or new export terminals?
Join our Public Insight Network!
EarthFix is a public media project of Oregon Public Broadcasting and Boise State Public Radio, Idaho Public Television, KCTS 9 Seattle, KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio, Northwest Public Radio and Television, Southern Oregon Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
