The State of Oregon is going through a very important process right now to revise our Territorial Sea Plan. Stakeholders, local governments, state agencies, and interested citizens are engaging in this effort to protect important marine habitats, recreational areas, fishing grounds, and existing infrastructure from the emerging interest of developing renewable energy in the ocean. Learn more about this effort, and our engagement on this issue over the past 4 years here. The time is getting near that decisions will be made to create “opportunity zones” for potential offshore development. Significant efforts are being made to minimize conflicts with existing beneficial uses that are already occurring within our waters, and this is being aided by a decision support tool called Oregon MarineMap, which includes various data layers of resources found within Oregon’s waters.

As the official representative of “non-fishing recreation” on the TSP Working Group and Advisory Committees, we take our role very seriously and want to ensure that all non-consumptive recreational ocean users have the opportunity to have their voice heard in this important process. Quantitative data has already been collected thanks to your great participation in the Recreational Ocean Use Study last year. Now we would like to provide you the opportunity to tell us as representatives of your interest about places that are special to you. This can be everything from your favorite surf spot, frequented dive spot, or a windsurfing mecca etc. What makes a place special you ask? Well, it’s different for everyone, for some it could be ease of access to the ocean, protection from the elements, a place close to home, beautiful scenery, or a place with abundant wildlife or unique habitat features. All of the above are important to different people for different reasons, and they are all important for Oregon to protect in this process. If you have special places within Oregon’s Territorial Sea (0-3 nautical miles) that you want to make sure are on the list for being protected, please send an email with a site description to ggates@surfrider.org

Confidentiality will be protected, local use respected, and this information will not be published in any shape or form.

This year’s Pacific Northwest Conference for Oregon, Washington and BC Chapters, members and activists of Surfrider Foundation will be held in Newport, Oregon, September 23-25, 2011.  Complimentary arrangements for hotel and food will be granted on a first come first serve basis (there’s still some spots left!). This year’s theme is Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG), and Paul Herzog, Surfrider Foundation’s OFG specialists will be traveling up to discuss the program and how members and chapters can better their gardening practices at home as well as implement various levels of programming and policy associated with Surfrider Foundation’s OFG initiative. Come out and join us, meet and network with some great fellow Surfriders!

Click Here to Register for the Conference!

Laurie Penland was doing some diving off of the coast of Belize, near a portion of the unique and wonderful Meso-American Barrier reef. This amazing reef system includes various protected areas and parks including the Belize Barrier Reef, Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve, and the Cayos Cochinos Marine Park. Laurie was stationed at Smithsonian Marine Research Station on Carrie Bow and when I came across her story today “Witness to a Plastic Invasion” , felt I had to share…read it and watch the video. Her stunning underwater video posted along with her self reflection on the 2 day event is worth a read and a share. What do you see in your daily life and in the ocean?

Last year, President Obama established the National Ocean Policy to help protect and restore our nation’s oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. The policy is already being implemented and is improving collaboration between government agencies, scientists, ocean users, and members of the public. Oregon is being viewed as an emerging leader for successful implementation of this policy with our collaborative efforts to amend our Territorial Sea Plan currently underway. Unfortunately, some Members of Congress are attempting to stop the National Ocean Policy with a backdoor attack through an FY12 Interior Appropriations bill. Halting implementation of the policy would reduce our nation’s capacity to protect and restore our ocean and coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend upon them. Please make your voice heard and ask your Senators and Representative to support the National Ocean Policy and oppose any proposal that would restrict its funding or implementation. Participate in our action alert today by clicking here.

Chad Nelsen, environmental director for Surfrider Foundation recently published this great short article in Making Waves regarding his massive Socioeconomic and Recreational Profile Study on US Surfers. The article gets straight to the point, with great illustrations. The full report is also available for download. Click here to read (from our new digital Making Waves!) or just click on the photo above!

What is a marine protected area, what purpose do they serve and why are so many places around the world (including Oregon) considering or implementing them? These are pretty big questions, that have a lot to do with our understanding of ocean literacy, that is: understanding the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean. There are 7 principles of Ocean Literacy — ideas scientists and educators agree everyone should understand about the ocean. In seeking to better inform students and educators not only about general principles of Ocean Literacy, but also specific applications of policies such as marine protected areas and reserves, National Geographic has just released this new resource:

“As part of the National Geographic Society’s Ocean Initiative, National Geographic Education is helping teachers educate students about the importance of ocean health and the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

This summer, explore a new unit of teacher-tested classroom activities for use in science courses, covering topics including marine ecology, human impacts on the ocean, and conservation. Learn how to use current classroom technologies, videos, photo galleries, and maps as part of a dynamic, project-based learning experience.” Check it out!

The next public work session of the OPAC Territorial Sea Plan Working Group will be on Tuesday, July 26th in Newport, OR at Newport City Hall. Oregon’s nearshore ocean plan is being updated and informed by various stakeholders and the public for accommodating ocean renewable energy projects, while protecting public resources as prescribed by Oregon’s Goal 19. The Oregon Chapters of Surfrider Foundation have been involved with wave energy and territorial sea planning process for over 4 years now. Recreational interests are important to consider when evaluating the ocean’s nearshore for potential renewable energy projects and we want to be proactive. Check out what we’ve been doing on behalf of recreational users in Oregon!  Go here for agenda and more information on the meeting.

I’m constantly asked both before and after beach cleanups if “anything was or is expected to be found from the Tsunami in Japan”? Folks are constantly interested whether for radioactive fear or salvage interests, when all that stuff from Japan is going to hit the coast over here. To be precise would be difficult, but it’s safe to say, it’s not hear yet! Millions of tons of debris that washed into the Pacific Ocean during Japan’s earthquake and tsunami last March is headed to U.S. shores now. Scientists using computer models say the wreckage, covering an area roughly the size of California, which is scattered across hundreds of miles of the Pacific Ocean and moving at a rate of about 10 miles a day, is expected to reach Midway Island and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands by next spring and beaches in California, Oregon and Washington in 2013 or early 2014. Read more and watch video of the wreckage at sea.

Today, the National Ocean Council held one of their nationwide “regional listening sessions” here in Oregon at Portland State University. Dr. Jane Lubchenco kicked off the opening remarks as over 150 stakeholders crowded PSU’s University Place Conference room to give their feedback to experts from the council. The National Ocean Council’s 27 Federal agencies and offices have been busy drafting strategic action plans to achieve nine national priority objectives that address some of the most pressing challenges facing our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes. The National Ocean Council received input on the strategic action plan outlines that were developed prior to the regional listening sessions. Surfrider chapters were well represented in Oregon with staff Pete Stauffer and Gus Gates providing comments and Tara Gallagher, Fred Sickler and Drew Kerr among the volunteers who came to provide testimony. An overarching sentiment in the feedback was in respect to Oregon’s spatial planning process for the territorial sea and the insistence upon this work being worthy of federal support and recognition. Find out more about how Surfrider is engaging and you can help in Oregon’s ocean planning process by visiting here!

It’s well known in the Oregon surfing community that Spencer Reynolds does some beautiful artwork. Check out Spencer’s new website here. In celebration of International Surfing Day, Spencer is generously donating 25% of online print sales from June 20-25th to the Oregon Chapters of the Surfrider Foundation. Get a few pieces to help beautify your home today, and help support the continued protection and enjoyment of Oregon’s ocean, waves and beaches at the same time. Kudos Spencer!