Yesterday the Oregon Senate voted to support HB 3013, which puts into practice the recommendations of the Ocean Policy Advisory council (OPAC). These recommendations were to implement two marine reserve projects this year, one at Redfish Rocks in Port Orford and one at Otter Rock near Depoe Bay, as well as the further evaluation and collection of baseline biological, social, and economic information over the next 18 months for sites proposed off Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, Cape Perpetua and to support a proposal from the Coos County area. The bill also directs communities adjacent to the proposal areas to form teams composed of diverse and balanced stakeholders for the on-going collaborative efforts surrounding rule making, research, monitoring, and marine reserve implementation. This bill was the result of several years of hard work by many people including Surfrider members and volunteers, OPAC, Coastal Caucus, Oregon Sea Grant, ODFW, as well as the conservation and fishing communities. Many thanks to all for their role in this important effort and on-going process. To read more about the bill and how it came together, click here.