Oregon Marine Reserves Implementation

Senate Bill 1510 was passed during the 2012 Legislative Session designating new marine reserves and protected areas at Cape Perpetua, Cascade Head, and Cape Falcon, which complimented the already designated sites at Otter Rock and Redfish Rocks to create a limited system within Oregon's Territorial Sea. Our work is now focused on implementation efforts around the sites and the system as a whole. This includes supporting the agency rule-making processes, as well as the development of site management plans which include education and outreach, research and monitoring, socioeconomic studies, and compliance and enforcement components. Our goal is to continue to build an engaged constituency of ocean users supporting implementation efforts through direct participation in community outreach & education efforts, as well as citizen science. This work includes integration of our existing programs like water quality monitoring through our Blue Water Task Force program and NOAA Shoreline Monitoring for marine debris at locations shoreside of the reserve to keep an eye on additional stressors that can affect ecosystem health. In addition, we are partnering with community based organizations, agencies, and other NGO's through the Oregon Marine Reserves Partnership to promote broad understanding of the research and monitoring efforts taking place and the results generated.

UPDATE 12/05/2022: Surfrider Foundation is working with key legislators in Oregon to support increased investments in Oregon's Marine Reserve Program following the decadal program review. Learn more about the climate and community recommendations we are seeking to act upon for the 2023 legislature - More info. 

Update 01/04/2023: Surfrider Foundation officially launched our legislative marine reserve campaign with coastal legislators and coalition partners through the introduction of HB 2903 in the 2023 legislature. Read more and track it on Oregon's Surfrider's statewide policy page.

Update 03/13/2023: Oregon's Governor proposes budget cuts to marine reserve program, a backward action on our efforts to advance Oreogn's Marine Reserve Program! More info.

Update 04/13/2023: Take action to support Oregon's marine reserves! Surfrider launches grassroots actions for legislative support of program - read more.