Oregon Public Broadcasting

A bill that creates three new marine reserves off the Oregon coast is on its way to the governor's desk. The Oregon House of Representatives voted 57-2 to pass the bill and ban fishing in a total of about 3 percent of the state's ocean.

Senate Bill 1510 restricts fishing in three areas: at Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, and Cape Perpetua, on the north and central Oregon coast.

Marine reserves are totally closed to fishing.  Adjoining protected areas will ban certain methods of fishing.

Before the vote, Rep. Wayne Krieger of Gold Beach said the bill was designed to avoid economic harm to coastal communities. He said the Legislature was under pressure to pass it to avoid a ballot measure that would close even more fishing areas.

Marine reserve advocate Ben Enticknap of the environmental group Oceana said he was surprised at how little opposition the bill faced in the House.

"I think it's fantastic after 10 years of process and 10 years of debate and at times very difficult conversations to see this level of support for moving forward with a limited network of marine reserves off the state of Oregon is tremendous."

Along with two existing marine reserves near Lincoln City and Port Orford, the bill would create a network of five marine reserves and protected areas on the Oregon coast across a total of more than 100 square miles.