Oregon's special coastal and ocean places are as fragile as they are beautiful:

Oregon's special coastal and ocean places are biologically rich and sensitive. These special places are of critical importance to not only diverse fish and wildlife populations, but also to the people who enjoy and depend upon them. They attract thousands of surfers, divers, beachgoers and recreational fishermen annually.

Human population, increased use, pollution and mismanaged commercial harvest are significantly degrading the marine habitat, reducing the diversity and abundance of marine species, and eroding our economic, cultural and recreational values.

Those of us who frequent Oregon's coast may do so for different reasons, but we all value its importance and cherish our ability to enjoy it - this is our coastal legacy. Growing demands on these sensitive coastal and ocean places threaten the health of our marine ecosystem and the fabric of our coastal legacy.

Surfrider Foundation's Special Places Campaign: The Surfrider Foundation is surfers, fishermen, divers, and beachgoers - people who spend a significant amount of time on the coast and in the ocean. Our legacy is at risk. If we do not act now, we may loose these special places forever - places where we surf, fish, dive and recreate. The Surfrider Foundation's Special Places Campaign is working to identify and protect Oregon's special places as "marine parks" or protected areas - preserving the Pacific Northwest coastal legacy. We recognize that protecting special places benefits not only diverse fish and wildlife populations, but also the people who enjoy and depend upon them.

We have a historic opportunity:

We who live, work on, and enjoy Oregon's coast have an unprecedented opportunity to protect and conserve our special coastal and ocean places. After two years of research and community discussion the Oregon Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) has provided Governor Kitzhaber with a strong recommendation to move forward with the creation of a network of marine reserves in Oregon.

Write to Governor Kitzhaber and tell him you support the protection of Oregon's special coastal and ocean places. Urge the Governor to create a network of marine reserves in order to:

Enhance the coastal experience by preserving wild recreational areas.  Full enjoyment of marine wilderness by surfers, divers, kayakers and other non-extractive users can only be achieved through the implementation of fully protected marine reserves.  Recreational fishing is also part of the coastal legacy and that legacy is jeopardized by declines in fisheries.  Not all marine protected areas are "no-take" marine reserves, and a tiered system of protected areas best reflects all the recreational values of the coast and ocean.
 
Protect special coastal and ocean places from ocean pollution, fisheries mismanagement and water quality problems, while promoting marine education, recreation and research.  Current and future generations deserve special coastal places where we can immerse ourselves in a natural setting.  
 
Restore ecosystem health in marine, estuarine and beach habitats.  Recognition of our goal to protect special places requires controlling what is added to the environment as well as what is removed. 

Put your local knowledge to work. This is a proactive way for us to protect ocean wilderness so that the next time we go surfing, fishing or diving at our favorite spot, we will be able to enjoy its wild beauty.