June 17, 2009
Ed Bowles, ed.bowles@state.or.us,
503.947.6206
Anna Pakenham, ann.pakenham@state.or.us,
503.986.1970
Molly Woon, molly.woon@state.or.us,
503.986.1074
Coastal
legislators applaud passage of historic marine reserves
bill
SALEM – The Oregon Senate voted to
support HB-3013A this afternoon, legislation that puts into
practice the recommendations of the Oregon Ocean
Policy Advisory Council (OPAC). The bill will implement two pilot marine reserve
projects at Otter Rock near Depoe Bay and Redfish Rocks near Port Orford and
prescribes a process to evaluate the potential for reserves in four other areas
of the coast. The vote was 24-3.
"This bill represents a
pivotal turning point in the long and sometimes divisive debate over marine
reserves,” said Senator Betsy Johnson
(D-Scappoose), who carried the bill on the Floor today. “We now have the
opportunity to move forward with a process that embodies transparency, community
involvement, and good science.”
HB-3013A outlines a balanced and
diverse procedure for the planning of Oregon’s
new marine reserves, including the development of regional community groups that
will assist with the shaping of potential marine reserve sites: Cape Falcon
north of Manzanita, Cascade Head north of Lincoln City,
Cape Perpetua south of Yachats and Cape Arago-Seven Devils
south of Coos
Bay.
“This bill gives us a real
opportunity to start dealing with our environmental issues with a science-based
approach,” said Senator Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg). “I look forward to the progress
that we will make in the next two years.”
HB-3013A passed out of the House of
Representatives in late May with a unanimous vote. The Governor and the
Co-Chairs of Ways and Means Committee have included this bipartisan bill in each
of their budgets, identifying surplus settlement funds from the grounding of the
New Carissa cargo ship to fund the marine reserves implementation. Sponsors and
supporters agree that funds generated from an oil spill settlement should be
used for marine science and conservation.
“Our community endured a lot when
the New Carissa ran aground in Coos Bay,” said Senator Joanne Verger
(D-District 5). “It started out as this huge hassle, eventually it became a
great tourist attraction, and then it was taken away over our objections. I am
glad this Legislature has recognized the nexus between the damage that was
caused and the need to use the money for the betterment of our coastal
resources.”
HB-3013A will implement the
recommendations of the Ocean Policy Advisory Council
(OPAC). Last fall OPAC reviewed 20
site proposals for marine reserves and protected areas that clustered around
nine ecologically significant areas of the coast. OPAC recommended that six go
forward for further evaluation and potential implementation.
“Oregon’s marine reserve
debate has been long and often contentious. The collaborative effort exemplified
in HB-3013A should be the model for future dialogue if we want the outcomes to
truly represent the best interests of the many stakeholders involved,” said Nick
Furman, Executive Director of the Dungeness Crab Commission. “We look
forward to working with the state’s fisheries managers as they take on the tasks
outlined for them in this piece of legislation and, as responsible stewards of
our territorial seas, offer our support as this process moves forward.”
“With this historic vote, Oregon is taking new action to preserve, monitor and
research Oregon’s vital ocean resources,” said Susan
Allen of the Pew Environment Group, who directs the Our Ocean coalition. “We
look forward to working with Oregon’s foremost marine experts and the
community to shape an ocean policy grounded in the best available science.”
The bill now moves to the Governor
for consideration.
To find out more about Oregon’s process to
establish marine reserves go to www.oregonmarinereserves.net
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