Cape Falcon Marine Reserve in
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
, USA, is a protected area located between Manzanita and the unincorporated community of Falcon Cove Beach in Tillamook and Clatsop Counties on the northern coast of Oregon. It is off the shore of
Oswald West State Park. The marine reserve is part of Oregon's network of five marine reserves spread down the coastline. Its restrictions went into effect on January 1, 2016.
Cape Falcon Marine Reserve is the second largest in Oregon's system with 12.4 square miles of ocean habitats in the marine reserve and an additional 7.6 square miles in two types of
marine protected areas
Marine protected areas (MPA) are protected areas of seas, oceans, estuaries or in the US, the Great Lakes. These marine areas can come in many forms ranging from wildlife refuges to research facilities. MPAs restrict human activity for a conserv ...
(MPAs). In the
marine reserve
A marine reserve is a type of marine protected area (MPA). An MPA is a section of the ocean where a government has placed limits on human activity. A marine reserve is a marine protected area in which removing or destroying natural or cultural ...
, no take of any marine resources is allowed. This includes no harvest of any species (i.e. no fishing, or gathering of kelp or mussels) and no ocean development. However, safe passage and anchoring of boats are allowed as long as fishing gear are not deployed. In the Cape Falcon Shoreside MPA (Falcon Cove sandy beach) only fishing from the beach is allowed. In the West MPA, only salmon fishing by troll, and crabbing, are allowed.
[Oregon Ocean website, Marine Reserves]
Accessed 18 August 2014
References
{{Reflist
External links
http://oregonmarinereserves.com/
Protected areas of Oregon
Protected areas of Clatsop County, Oregon
Protected areas of Tillamook County, Oregon