Ecological Monitoring

Spring is a busy time of year for field work. The ODFW Marine Reserves Program kicked off the field season on April 1st, starting with video lander surveys at Cascade Head. Other efforts this month will include SCUBA diver training at Redfish Rocks and deployment of SMURF gear for juvenile fish recruitment surveys at Redfish Rocks and Otter Rock in mid-April (read more about SMURF surveys here). Hook and line surveys will begin in the latter half of the month at Cascade Head.

Human Dimensions Research

We’re pleased to announce the recent completion of a pilot anthropology study on marine reserves effects, looking to understanding social change and uncertainty in fishing communities. This was a joint project between the ODFW Marine Reserves Program and Dr. Beth Marino of Oregon State University (OSU) – Cascades. Dr. Marino presented her preliminary results to the Ocean Policy Advisory Council at their most recent meeting on April 5th. A final report on this pilot study will be available on our website in early summer.

Additionally, Dr. Kreg Lindberg of OSU – Cascades, recently presented the results of a pilot study looking at coastal resident’s wellbeing and resilience in the face of change (read our earlier News post for more information on this study). This project was funded by a grant from Sea Grant with additional support provided by the ODFW Marine Reserves Program. The results of this pilot study have been presented at several recent conferences and at a science symposium at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. The report will be out this summer.