Nadia Gardner , local conservation planner, discussed marine reserves around the world and then narrowed the discussion to Oregon. A marine reserve is an area closed to fishing and other extractive activities. The objective is to conserve marine habitat and biodiversity and provide opportunities for marine research. There are also Marine Protected Areas which would allow specific extractive activities such as crabbing or salmon fishing.
There are two designated pilot sites: one being on the central coast north of Newport at Otter Rock and the other one on the south coast south of Port Orford called Redfish Rocks. There are other sites being considered.
The area that Nadia spent time discussing was the area closest to Cannon Beach..it lies between the southern part of Arch Cape to just north of Manzanita called Cape Falcon. Oregon State Park's Oswald West is to the east of this stretch of ocean. There will be a Marine Reserve piece, a Marine Protected Area piece and shore side fishing area....quite complicated. There were many stake holders involved in the process and it took alot of time to iron out.
As you can see there was a involved audience with lots of great questions.
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