10/01/2008

Associated Press

Environmentalists have proposed putting about a seventh of Oregon's territorial sea into no-fishing zones.

A coalition called Our Ocean proposes nine marine reserves. The group's director, Susan Allen, says they will increase fish populations and provide places for research.

"The reality is the (human) population is only going to increase," Allen said, "and more pressure is going to be put on the near shore."

Tuesday was the deadline set by Gov. Ted Kulongoski for reserve proposals. Kulongoski wants as many as nine reserves.

The state has jurisdiction over more than 1,000 square miles of "territorial sea," a ribbon three miles wide extending along the 360-mile coast.

The Our Ocean reserves would cover 14 percent of it. They would include portions of some key reef fishing areas, including Cape Falcon south of Cannon Beach, Three Arch Rocks just off Oceanside and a chunk of Siletz Reef near Lincoln City.

Local community groups submitted smaller plans, many mirroring or close to Our Ocean's proposal.

Fishermen in Port Orford and Depoe Bay proposed reserves suggested as pilot projects. Our Ocean endorsed the Port Orford proposal but said the Depoe Bay reserve is too small and shallow.

The group said it heeded Kulongoski's requirement for ecologically significant reserves that don't do significant economic damage and, after hearing from fishermen largely passed on Siletz Reef and left out Orford, Rogue and Tillamook Head reefs.

But marine reserves face opposition from many fishermen. The Legislature may struggle over them when it meets next year.

"The costs are going to be in the multimillions to do research, monitoring and enforcement," said Terry Thompson, a fisherman, Lincoln County commissioner and member of the governor's Ocean Policy Advisory Committee. The panel will review the proposals.

He said the three reserves proposed off Lincoln County's coastline include important charter fishing and crab grounds. He wants more research on whether the reserves will make a difference, and a smaller start, given the state's budget problems.

Our Ocean also proposed less-restrictive "marine protected areas" for 16 percent of the territorial sea that would allow most types of fishing, including crabbing and hook-and-line fishing for sablefish, flatfish and reef-dwelling rockfish. It would bar fishing for bottom trawling and fishing for forage fish such as sardines and smelt.

___

Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com