Membership

OPAC Membership

Membership on the Ocean Policy Advisory Council is specified in ORS 196.438 and is detailed below: 

The Governor shall establish an Ocean Policy Advisory Council that is staffed by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Land Conservation and Development and other departments as the Governor deems necessary. The council shall be composed of:

(a) The Governor or the Governor’s designee, as a nonvoting member;

(b) The director or the director’s designee of the following agencies, as nonvoting members:

(A) Department of Environmental Quality;
(B) State Department of Fish and Wildlife;
(C) State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries;
(D) Department of Land Conservation and Development;
(E) Department of State Lands;
(F) Parks and Recreation Department;
(G) State Department of Agriculture; and
(H) The director or director’s designee of Oregon State University, Sea Grant College;

(c) A member of the governing body of Coos, Curry, Douglas or Lane County to be appointed by the Governor, chosen in consultation with and with the approval of a majority of the members of the governing bodies of Coos, Curry, Douglas and Lane Counties;

(d) A member of the governing body of Clatsop, Lincoln or Tillamook County to be appointed by the Governor, chosen in consultation with and with the approval of a majority of the members of the governing bodies of Clatsop, Lincoln and Tillamook Counties;

(e) An elected city official from a coastal city bordering the territorial sea to be appointed by the Governor with advice from an Oregon coastal zone management association;

(f) A representative of each of the following ocean interests, to be appointed by the Governor, and subject to confirmation by the Senate pursuant to section 4, Article III, Oregon Constitution:

(A) Commercial ocean fisheries of the North Coast from Newport north;
(B) Commercial ocean fisheries of the South Coast south of Newport;
(C) Charter, sport or recreation ocean fisheries of the North Coast from Newport north;
(D) Charter, sport or recreation ocean fisheries of the South Coast south of Newport;
(E) Ports marine navigation or transportation;
(F) Coastal non-fishing recreation interests of surfing, diving, kayaking or windsurfing;
(G) A coastal conservation or environmental organization;
(H) Oregon Indian tribes appointed after consultation with the Commission on Indian Services;
(I) A coastwide organization representing a majority of small ports and local governments, as a nonvoting member; and
(J) A statewide conservation or environmental organization; and

(g) Two representatives of the public, at least one of whom shall be a resident of a county bordering the territorial sea, to be appointed by the Governor.

OPAC Membership Roster, December 2024

Structure

Structure of the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council 

Much of OPAC’s work is performed within smaller working groups:

• Executive Committee
• Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC)
• Federal Liaison Committee

These groups have no added authority over OPAC itself. The topical working groups are ad hoc subgroups and are named to address specific issues. Members of these groups are members of OPAC or may be any other individuals with knowledge of the issues. All decisions and positions of OPAC are developed and made or taken by the entire council. 

View the current roster of OPAC members and their contact information.

Executive Committee

The OPAC Executive Committee is defined in the Operating Procedures as the Chair, Vice Chair, STAC Chair, Governor's Office Representative and an At-Large Voting OPAC Member. These individuals are presently Susan Chambers, Tara Brock, Karina Nielsen, Karin Power, and a Jamie Fereday. The Executive Committee meets between OPAC meetings to develop agendas for the larger group, and to address other administrative issues as needed.   

Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC)

Scientific and Technical advice is brought to OPAC via the legislatively-mandated Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC). The authorizing legislation includes Oregon's Ocean Resources Management Law (ORS 196) and  House Bill 3013(2009).  This committee is chaired by the representative from Oregon Sea Grant, Karina Nielsen. The committee itself acts as a broker: when OPAC needs scientific or technical advice on an issue, the STAC identifies appropriate experts and engages their assistance. Sea Grant’s vision of the process, which was adopted by OPAC (07.19.2010), is presented in a guidance document on the formation and functions of the STAC. 

Federal Liaison Committee

The OPAC Federal Liaison Committee was created to improve communications between the council and federal agencies with ocean responsibilities. OPAC can get opinions on pending OPAC positions or decisions from the federal perspective and also be kept up to date on federal initiatives. The committee members need to be determined, as it has been years since it met.  Kris Wall (NOAA OCM) has functioned in the role of the primary Liaison to the Council. 

Recruitment

Ocean Policy Advisory Council Member Recruitment

The Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) in partnership with the Office of the Governor, is seeking qualified applicants to serve on the Council in the open positions listed below:

• Public at-large (Statewide)
• Public at-large (Coastal)
• North Coast Commercial Fisheries
• North Coast Recreational Fisheries 

Application Information

The office of executive appointments will receive applications on a rolling basis as openings on the Council become available.  To submit an application, visit the Boards and Commissions website.  You may apply at any time, regardless of whether there is a current opening, as resignations occur throughout the year. If you are being actively considered for an appointment, you will hear from either the Governor’s Office or the Board Administrator directly.

Applications are received electronically through the Workday system that supports all Boards and Commissions for the State.  Click here to visit the OPAC page on the Workday system.  

Guidance for new applicants: 

• You will be instructed to create a Workday profile using an email and password
• Once created, sign in, search for the Board or Commission you would like to apply to, and select the Apply button

A complete application consists of:

• Contact Information
• Short Personal Bio
• Responses to Application Questions
• Demographic Information
• Uploaded Resume (PDF only)
• Background Check Questions*
• Voluntary Disclosures
• Additional Tasks (you will be prompted by Workday)

*Applicants are subject to a background check and additional vetting may apply for some board positions. Notifying us about something in your past does not necessarily mean that you cannot or will not be appointed; but, it is important that you disclose this information in the beginning of the process. Please ensure your fiscal responsibilities are in order when applying. Non-compliant issues may delay or jeopardize your potential appointment.

If you are unable to complete the form electronically, please reach out to the Executive Appointments Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for assistance.  Additional staff support is provided by OPAC Council Staff: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Note: Due to the high volume of inquiries, there may be a delay in hearing back from a member of our team. We appreciate your patience.

STAC

Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee Members

The governor-appointed Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) works with the public to make recommendations on issues of ocean policy ranging from ocean-based energy generation plans to developing marine reserves in the territorial sea. By statute, the Oregon Sea Grant director serves as permanent chair of the council's Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) and under OPAC rules serves as a member of the Council's Executive Board. Current STAC committee members are:

• Karina Nielsen,  Director, Oregon Sea Grant, Chair
• David M. Kling, Oregon State University, Department of Applied Economics
• Veronica Dujon - Oregon Higher Education Coordination Commission
• Elise Granek - Portland State University, Environmental Science and Resources
• Selina Heppell - Oregon State University, Fisheries and Wildlife
• Jan Hodder - University of Oregon, Center for Ocean Science Education/Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
• William Jaeger - Oregon State University, Department of Applied Economics
• Jim Lerczak, Oregon State University, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
• J. Wilson While, Oregon State University, Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station

STAC Meetings and Reports

STAC is not required to include Public Comment as part of their meetings, however all meetings of the STAC shall be available and accessible to the public to attend. Meeting agendas and summaries are archived on the STAC Meetings Page.

TSP Offshore Wind Workgroup

At the December 11, 2024 meeting of the Council, the members voted to establish a Territorial Sea Plan Work Group on Offshore Wind Energy.  The motion that established the group was as follows: "In coordination with the current Offshore Wind (OSW) Roadmap Roundtable, OPAC establishes an OSW workgroup for about 3 meetings to review the Territorial Sea Plan and provide policy or actions to include in the Roadmap." 

OPAC members on the Work Group: Jamie Fereday, Tara Brock, Nataliya Stranadko, Margaret Corvi, Laurel Hillmann, Justin  Ainsworth, Ray Monroe, Joe Liebezeit (tentatively).  

Meetings: 

• April 24, 2025, Meeting Agenda