Oregon’s marine reserves are areas within our coastal nearshore waters dedicated to conservation and scientific research.

In 2008, the State of Oregon began to consider the establishment of a system of fewer than ten marine reserves along its coast as part of a continuing effort to move towards managing its marine waters and submerged lands using an ecosystem-based approach. The overall purpose of marine reserves is to provide an additional tool to help protect, sustain, or restore the nearshore marine ecosystem, its habitats, and species for the values they represent to present and future generations. Such action complements the collective efforts of Oregon, Washington, and California to manage the California Current in an ecosystem-based manner as expressed in the West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Health (Gregoire, Kulongoski, and Schwarzenegger, 2007).

What is Oregon's definition of a Marine Reserve?

A marine reserve is an area within Oregon's 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 Policy Recommendations Document, 2008).

Oregon has currently designated 5 Sites as marine reserves.  The Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, Otter Rock, Cape Perpetua, and Redfish Rocks marine reserves are each named for local natural landmarks. Within the marine reserves all removal of marine life is prohibited, as is ocean development.  

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) manages and scientifically monitors these five sites.  They are taking a deeper dive into Oregon's marine reserves to gain a better understanding of marine reserve protections, our nearshore waters, and coastal communities.  To learn more about the Marine Reserves Program at ODFW, visit their website at: https://oregonmarinereserves.com/.  The ODFW Marine Reserves Program is located at the coast in Newport, Oregon with six full-time staff.