By July 1, 2008, the Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) will launch a public nomination process to identify potential marine reserve sites in Oregons Territorial Sea. The proposal process will be supported by local 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 established ecological and socioeconomic criteria. Marine reserves are places in the ocean that are protected from human extraction or damage, and science shows that reserves typically result in greater abundance, size, and diversity of marine organisms inside their boundaries. For more info on Oregon's planning process: http://www.oregonmarinereserves.net/ For info to get involved please contact pstauffer@surfrider.org.
