Ocean Articles

December 3, 2020

Rocky Habitat Protection Proposals Now Being Considered

The view from Blacklock Point.\Photo by Alex Derr. The state of Oregon is developing a new Rocky Habitat Management Strategy, the first revision of Oregon’s policy for protecting rocky intertidal and nearshore subtidal ecosystems since 1994. Oregon Shores has been actively engaged in this process for the past three years. We are now in the crucial final phase—...Read more
September 6, 2020

Oregon Shores Joins Defense of Endangered Species Act

Western Snowy Plovers at South Beach.\Photo by Molly Sultany. Oregon Shores joined 45 other ocean conservation groups recently in protesting an attempt by the Trump administration to cripple the Endangered Species Act, with new definitions of “habitat” which would severely limited the law’s effectiveness. To see our joint comment,...Read more
July 9, 2019

State Adopts Plan to Address Ocean Acidification

Oregon's ocean off Netarts, Cape Lookout in the background.\Photo by Dale Harmer. Mandated by the 2017 Oregon Legislature, the state developed a plan to address the growing problem of ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH). The Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH), a body composed of scientists and agency leaders, with...Read more
May 29, 2019

Orca Awareness Month Declared in Oregon

For 13 years, June has been proclaimed Orca Awareness Month by the Governor of Washington — and for the first time in 2016, Orca Awareness Month was celebrated in Oregon and in British Columbia as well! The American Cetacean Society’s Oregon Chapter kicked things off early with an Orca Awareness Day at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Any community group, science center, non-profit...Read more
The beach at Rockaway.\Photo by Sonja Peterson.
August 31, 2017

Bacteria Findings Show Need for Water Quality Monitoring

The beach at Rockaway.\Photo by Sonja Peterson. The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program , based at the Oregon Health Association Public Health Division , began its annual, regular evaluation...Read more
Sea Change
August 30, 2017

Celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day

coastal_clean_up_stats SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 is International Coastal Cleanup Day. Ocean trash is a serious pollution issue that affects the health of wildlife, people, and local economies. Trash on our shores and in the water increases the destruction and degradation of wildlife, water quality, and and ecosystems. In partnership with volunteer organizations...Read more
Sea pickles off the coast of Oregon.
July 21, 2017

Sightings: ‘Sea Pickles’ Wash Ashore in the Pacific Northwest

Pyrosomes off the west coast of America. | Photo from University of Oregon Mysterious translucent creatures are washing ashore along the western shores of North America. Known as “sea pickles” -- the scientific name is pyrosomes -- these creatures are made up of a colony of individual zooids. A zooid is a tiny multicellular organism that makes up part of a...Read more
Leaving Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve. Photo courtesy of ODFW.
May 31, 2017

Ocean Frontiers Films Available for Screening

redfish_rocks_behind_odfw.jpg Oregon Shores recently co-sponsored a screening of Ocean Frontiers: The Dawn of a New Era in Ocean Planning . This is the latest film from Green Fire Productions, which has been chronicling the development of marine reserves and ocean conservation efforts through a series of documentary works. If your organization would...Read more