Oregon has entered the final month of a public proposal process to identify potential sites for marine reserves or marine protected areas (MPAs). The process is being supported by nearshore action teams, comprised of coastal residents, ocean users, and other interested parties. Proposed sites will be subject to several phases of evaluation based on ecological and socioeconomic criteria. Next week, Oregon Sea Grant and ODFW will host two technical workshops to assist public groups with their marine reserve proposals. The purpose is to provide groups an opportunity to discuss their draft proposals and receive feedback and assistance from state resource managers and others with local knowledge of the areas potentially being proposed. The workshops will be held from 1pm - 6pm on Sept. 15 in Charleston (OIMB Boathouse) and Sept. 18 in Pacific City (Kiwanda Community Center). Marine reserves are places in the ocean that are protected from human extraction or disturbance and science shows that reserves typically result in greater abundance, size, and diversity of marine organisms inside their boundaries. Please join a coalition of ocean users that is participating and supporting this process. For more info on Oregon's planning process click here