Ocean News Archive

All ocean news articles

Photo of Rocky shores at Boiler Bay, by Kirt Edblom.

Land Use Agency Will Consider Rocky Shores Initiative

Rocky shores at Boiler Bay. Photo by Kirt Edblom. In December, Oregon Shores successfully proposed to the state’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) that it is high time that Oregon revisit its management policies regarding our rocky shore areas. A new OPAC working group was created, chaired by Robin Hartmann, Oregon Shores’ Ocean Policy Advocate, to review...Read more
Photo of rocky shore near Cannon Beach by Mark Stalcup.

Oregon Will Revisit State’s Rocky Shores in 2016

Rocky shore near Cannon Beach. Photo by Mark Stalcup. Responding to a proposal put forward by Oregon Shores at its December 3 meeting, the state's Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) created a new working group tasked with revisiting Oregon's policies regarding rocky shore protection. Robin Hartmann, Oregon Shores' Ocean Policy Advocate, will chair the new "...Read more
Photo of Robin Hartmann.

OPAC Settles on New Ocean Policy Priorities

Robin Hartmann, Oregon Shores' Ocean Policy Advocate, on her CoastWatch mile. Oregon’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) met in Tillamook on December 3 and reached consensus on selecting three “new” ocean policy areas to focus on over the next two years: marine debris, ocean acidification, and coastal resilience. In addition, OPAC members will continue their...Read more
Photo of purple water.

Cause Identified for Purple Tides Noted by CoastWatchers

Mysterious purple patches are being observed along the coast. The answer to the summer's trick CoastWatch question, "What is causing the purple water?" turned out to be "salps." Numerous reports came in over a period of weeks concerning “purple water” or “a gelatinous purple mass” in the water. It took a while to determine the cause, and several suspects were suggested. Finally, though, Caren...Read more
Oregon's nearshore ocean from Ecola State Park. Photo by Bruce Swenson.

ODFW Nearshore Conservation Strategy Prompts Oregon Shores Comments

In late July, Oregon Shores submitted a five-page letter of comment on the draft 2015 – 2025 Nearshore Conservation Strategy prepared by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Bob Bailey, Oregon Shores Ocean Committee Chair, also presented testimony to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at...Read more
Underwater photo of fish and reef.

Ecological Monitoring Plan for Reserves Released

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has released the latest version of the department’s Marine Reserves Ecological Monitoring Plan . This document provides information for the general public, and for ODFW’s marine reserves “partners” (including Oregon Shores and the Oregon Marine Reserves Partnership), about the ecological monitoring efforts occurring in Oregon's five marine...Read more
Photo of Cape Falcon marine reserve.

Key Marine Reserves Position Open at ODFW

Do you know someone who would be effective in helping to educate the public about marine reserves, or in organizing research on Oregon’s current reserves? Are you such a person yourself? The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is hiring for a position that has an important bearing on the success of our marine reserves. The deadline for applications is Oct. 13. The Marine Reserves...Read more
Sea turtle caught in drift gillnet. Photo courtesy of Turtle Island Restoration Network.

Drift Gillnet Opponents Gain a Portion of Our Demands

Joining fishing groups, businesses, and fellow conservation groups, Oregon Shores signed a letter to the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) asking the regulatory agency to crack down on drift gillnets that destroy a great deal of marine life. In particular, these nets threaten endangered sea turtles such as the leatherback and loggerhead, along with whales and other marine mammals. The...Read more
Photo of water quality warning sign.

Beach Monitoring Program Announces Impending Changes

The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OMRP) is beginning a formal process to adopt a new “beach action value” (BAV) that would be used beginning in the 2017 monitoring season. The BAV is used to determine when public health advisories should be issued for beaches. Up till now, the threshold for advisories has been 158 MPN. (This stands for “most probable number,” and for beach water quality...Read more
Photo of coastline at Cape Perpetua.

Video of Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve Released

The Oregon Marine Reserves Partnership (OMRP) has released the second in its series of videos on Oregon’s new marine reserves. Featuring Paul Engelmeyer of the Audubon Society, the video features panoramic shots of Cape Perpetua and information about the unique habitats and creatures found there, from Sea Lion Caves (the largest sea cave in the Americas) to the marbeled murrelet, which feeds in...Read more