GOAL: Port Orford, Oregon
Community Stewardship Area
 
Background:
Since 1997, Pacific Marine Conservation Council (PMCC) has conducted scientific research and successfully advocated for improved fisheries management. We seek to engage fishermen and coastal citizens in conservation initiatives that benefit marine resources and local economies.
PMCC's intent through work in Port Orford is
to maintain the community's access to healthy fish populations, while
protecting the ecological integrity of the Orford Reef system.
We are collaborating with the Port
Orford Ocean Resource Team (POORT) and other entities in an effort
to establish a Community Stewardship Area that encompasses traditional
ocean fishing grounds, and includes nearby salmon watersheds. Together
with POORT, Surfrider Foundation,
Ecotrust and local residents, PMCC
is gathering information necessary for maintaining sustainable fisheries
in Port Orford. Our initial focus on the live fish fishery on Orford Reef
is reflective of the economical and cultural importance of this fishery
to the nearby community.
PMCC is committed to working closely with local fishermen
to conduct collaborative research that will determine sustainable catch
levels for nearshore species, and assist with the development of Port
Orford's own plan for accessing groundfish and managing the live fish
fishery. In doing this, PMCC and our project partners are strengthening
POORT's role as the first community-based marine resource center in the
region. Our collective vision is the establishment of a community stewardship
area encompassing the Orford Reef system, which can be used as a model
for community-based fishery management initiatives elsewhere.
A comprehensive Stewardship
Plan, prepared for POORT by PMCC and Golden Marine Consulting,
is available online in pdf. Please be advised that, due to the large size
of this document, it may take a few minutes to download.
- Images courtesy of Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife and Caroline Gibson
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