OPAC

There is a proposal to establish marine reserves off the Coast of Oregon. The Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) has been legislatively mandated to advise the governor regarding marine reserves. OPAC will be meeting in Florence, Oregon on October 23 and 24, 2008 to consider 20 proposed sites and to make recommendations to the governor as to which should become marine reserves. Marine reserves, as I understand, them prohibit all public human activies and even entry. No commercial or sports fishing, or any ‘extractive’ activity would be allowed. In fact they areas would be completely off-limits, forever, except for scientific research. Three marine reserve sites are being proposed in waters off Clatsop County that are linked with marine protected areas, from Tillamook Head south to Cape Falcon in Tillamook County. In effect, if these three areas are adopted, they would close important ocean waters to charter boat operator, crabbers and commercial fishermen alike. The Board of County Commissions has taken a stand against establishing additional no fishing area without releasing areas already off limits. The impact and cost to our communities would be too high. For more information go to the Oregon Marine Reserves site: www.oregonmarinereserves.net The following are excerpts from this web site: How were sites proposed? Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council Marine Reserves Process PROPOSAL FORM FOR SITES FOR FURTHER EVALUATION Please submit one proposal per site. Complete and submit the two sections of this proposal form. Attach your answers from section 2 to this form, including a map showing the proposed boundaries of the site. Proposals can be submitted to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife up until September 30, 2008. Where to submit your proposal: By mail: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife OPAC Marine Reserves Process 2040 SE Marine Science Dr. Newport, OR 97365 By email: Odfw.MarineReserves@state.or.us (please include “Submit Proposal” in the email subject line) SECTION 1: CONTACT INFORMATION PLEASE FILL IN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Please type, or print legibly to ensure we are able to contact you with any questions. Attach this sheet as the first page of your proposal. 1. A Name for Your Proposed Site: Tillamook Head Marine Reserve 2. Name of Principal Contact: Mike Manzulli & Nadia Gardner 3. Affiliation/Organization: Coastal landowners and residents 4. Daytime Phone: (503) 440‐7862 5. Email: manzulli@hotmail.com 6. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1281 Cannon Beach, OR 97110 7. Additional Information: PROPOSAL FORM FOR SITES FOR FURTHER EVALUATION What information has be submitted? Where are these sites located?

Since 1999 3 large areas of our local ocean have been closed to our drag fishermen. First, the state of Washington closed all it’s state waters, out to three miles. Then in 2001 a lawsuit brought against the National Marine Fisheries Service by Oceana, the Natural Resource Defense Council, and the pacific Marine Conservation Council was ruled in favor of the environmentalist. The result closed a swath of water from Canada to Mexico between 50 and 250 fathoms to drag fishermen called the Rockfish Conservation Area. This area alone represented 75% of the traditional fishing grounds of our local drag fishermen. Off cannon Beach this area is over 30 miles wide. Then in 2005 the last large area closure was made when Oceana threatened another lawsuit. This area closure is called the Essential Fish Habitat and closes the ocean from the 700 fathom line as far out as any bottom fishing vessel can fish. Drag fishermen have modified their fishing techniques to provide net designed that do not drag across the ocean floor and thus are environmentally friendly. The new nets have “excluders” that greatly reduce if not eliminate Rockfish species and retain the targeted Sole. The vessels now have location and observation methods that are being overseen by governing bodies. All commercial vessels are required to have monitoring systems( black boxes that operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week / all 365 days), and human observers. Despite these improvement no water have been reopened to our fishermen. The local fishing fleet has been reduced to half as a direct result of these three large area closures. If the state waters are also closed fishermen will be put out of business and processors severely harmed. These state water closures include sports fishermen as well as commercial. Our local economy would be delt a huge blow and our communities would face further devastation. The County Board of Commissioners is requesting the state review these initial federal water closure and consider the impact upon our local economy and communities. If state waters are to be closed can federal waters be re-opened? To date the Oregon governing bodies has not even attempted to negotiate with the Federal authorities. If you have an opinion please sent it to Terry Thompson, the Lincoln County Commissioner and representative for Lincoln, Tillamook and Clatsop Counties on OPAC before October 23- 24 meeting. tthompson@co.lincoln.or.us Attached are map showing the waters already closed to fishing. Map of the Rockfish Conservation Area Closure :

The following map shows the Essential Fish Habitat Closure: