Ted Kulongoski's proposed process for nominating and establishing designated marine reserves in Oregon's territorial sea.

Representatives of different entities with varying viewpoints on the issue gathered Monday at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport to offer feedback to the governor's staff and the state's Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) on ways to enhance outreach efforts pertaining to marine reserves.

Effective feedback, he and others say, begins at the local level within the coastal communities and fisheries that would directly absorb the socioeconomic effects of designated marine reserves.

Much discussion at Monday's gathering focused on a memo to OPAC's Marine Reserves Working Group from Ginny Goblirsch, a Port of Newport commissioner, and Jeff Feldner, a commercial fisherman and Oregon State University Sea Grant fisheries specialist.

Kulongoski stated the fishing industry "must play an essential role in wave energy and marine reserve siting decisions," and assured them he was "committed to ensuring that future wave energy development and establishment of a limited system of marine reserves do not interrupt traditional fishing practices on Oregon's Territorial Sea.

Onno Husing said a key aspect is to gather up-front information about any potential socioeconomic impacts from any proposed marine reserve nomination, because right now no one is taking the time or devoting resources to develop socioeconomic models to accurately judge the impacts of removing more ocean space from sports and commercial fisheries. read more

Tags: reserves, coastal, communities