Teams consider final recommendations for marine reserves

Community teams considering marine reserves off the Oregon Coast will be developing their final recommendations and soliciting public comment at a series of meetings in early November.

There will be meetings in Florence, Newport and Astoria to consider three possible marine reserve sites:

Cape Perpetua, Monday, Nov. 8 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Siuslaw Fire Dept., 2625 Hwy. 101 N, Florence, Ore.

Cascade Head, Tuesday, Nov. 9 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Oregon Coast Community College, 400 SE College Way, Newport, Ore.

Cape Falcon, Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Clatsop Community College, 1651 Lexington, Ave., Astoria, Ore.

While the community teams will be deciding on their final recommendations in November, which could include a recommendation to not create one or more of the proposed reserves, these meetings will not be the last step in the designation of marine reserves, nor the last opportunity for the public to have input.

According to Cristen Don, ODFW marine reserve staff, ODFW will consult with the Ocean Policy Advisory Council in December prior to taking the community team recommendations to the Oregon Legislature. The Legislature is expected to provide further direction on marine reserves implementation and funding before any sites are designated.

“While there will be additional opportunities for public comment in future stages of this process, this will be the last chance the public has to have input prior to the community teams’ recommendations,” Don said.

At the direction of the 2009 Oregon State Legislature, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has been evaluating the three potential marine reserve sites. A local community team was formed for each site to consider the biological, social and economic characteristics of their site, and to submit a marine reserve recommendation to ODFW this fall.