Community groups to evaluate potential marine reserve sites



Oregon’s marine reserves process moved ahead in early December when the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced the selections of community team members to further evaluate proposed sites at Cascade Head north of Lincoln City, Cape Perpetua south of Yachats, and Cape Falcon north of Manzanita.

ODFW received nominations for those teams in November.

Anna Pakenham, from the ODFW Marine Resources Program at Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC), said the applications were vetted through relevant stakeholder groups and Oregon’s Coastal Caucus “to find teams that were geographically and representatively balanced and diverse.”

Among other qualifications, ODFW requested individuals who could “work with others respectfully and openly to discuss all options” in developing any marine reserve recommendations, who could “fully participate in and attend” all team meetings, and who “have specific knowledge” of the potential marine reserve site. While not an outright requirement, preference went to local applicants who met the other qualifications.

Each team includes two representatives and two alternates each from local government, recreational fishing industry, commercial fishing industry, non-fishing industry, recreationalists, conservation groups, coastal watershed councils, and “relevant” marine scientists.

“The purpose of these teams is to refine and make final recommendations for potential marine reserve sites,” Pakenham noted. “Team members will also work in collaboration with ODFW staff to assist with biological and social/economic assessments, and to develop site-specific marine reserve goals.”

Those goals must line up with the Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC)’s marine reserve definition and goals.



Evolving process



OPAC’s definition of a marine reserve is “an area within Oregon’s state territorial sea or adjacent rocky intertidal area that is protected from all extractive activities, including the removal or disturbance of living and non-living marine resources, except as necessary for monitoring or research to evaluate reserve condition, effectiveness, or impact of stressors.”

OPAC reviewed 20 site public proposals for marine reserves and marine protected areas clustered around nine ecologically significant areas along Oregon’s 363-mile coastline.

Based on OPAC recommendations and backed by the legislature through House Bill 3013, Oregon officials aim to establish two pilot marine reserves at Otter Rock near Depoe Bay and Redfish Rocks near Port Orford. They also want “a balanced and diverse procedure” to assist in shaping four other potential marine reserve sites - Cascade Head, Cape Perpetua, and Cape Falcon, along with Cape Arago-Seven Devils south of Coos Bay.

The community teams would evaluate and refine those site proposals, including the rulemaking pertaining to them.



Making the rules



ODFW is the designated lead agency for the entire marine reserves process.

House Bill 3013 requires ODFW, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), and the Department of State Lands to develop rules for establishing, studying, monitoring, and evaluating the pilot marine reserves and marine protected areas at Otter Rock and Redfish Rocks. The rules focus on what activities are allowed or not allowed in those areas.

The State Land Board adopted the DSL proposal during a Dec. 8 meeting. DSL’s rules officially establish the Otter Rock Marine Reserve and the Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve and Marine Protected Area, and govern uses of submerged and submersible lands within those reserve and protected areas.

During a Dec. 11 session, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted ODFW regulations to govern fishing and hunting activities in those marine reserve areas. Those regulations won’t take effect until July 30, 2011 to give ODFW officials time to collect baseline information.

OPRD manages public recreation and natural resources from low tide areas shoreward, usually to the vegetation line. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission is expected to adopt the OPRD rules during the commission’s Jan. 28, 2010 meeting. After that, staff members from the three agencies will work together to compile the regulations into one educational guide for the public.

Community teams can, among other things, provide input on the potential rules for their respective proposed marine reserves. Team meetings begin in January.

More information on the entire marine reserve process is available at www.oregonmarinereserves.net.



Terry Dillman is the assistant editor of the News-Times. Contact him at (541) 265-8571, ext 225, or terrydillman@newportnewstimes.com.



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