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New Oregon Coastal Protec ons Will Help Nature and
Communi es
Safeguards cover de pools, kelp forests, and other habitats vital to wildlife,
economy, and culture
ARTICLE
January 25, 2023
Updated: January 27, 2023
By: Bobby Hayden & Elizabeth Ruther
Read me: 4 min
Projects: Conserving Marine Life in the United States

Beachgoers explore one of Oregon’s numerous de pools—dynamic inter dal habitats where visitors can see marine life
up close.
In St. Clair
Editor’s note: This ar cle was updated on Jan. 27, 2023, to correct a photo cap on.
Tourist visits to Oregon’s rugged coast are higher than to any other part of the state. Nearly
half of this coastline is rocky, featuring de pools, headland cliffs, offshore rocks and islands,
and submerged reefs—all of which support abundant marine wildlife and hold significant
economic, social, and cultural value. Now, a er more than three years of collabora on

among coastal residents, community groups, and policymakers, Oregon’s Ocean Policy
Advisory Council (OPAC) approved new conserva on designa ons for six rocky inter dal and
offshore areas on Dec. 9.
These designa ons will increase state agency a en on to managing these areas, and
because the designa on process galvanized community leaders, they should also enhance
collabora on between state agencies and local communi es. The designa ons also will make
it easier for the state to secure future funding and protec on for these areas. Several
designa ons, including those at Cape Lookout, Cape Foulweather, and Ecola Point, establish
modest limits on the harvest of marine plants and invertebrates such as mussels to balance
human use with the needs of wildlife and the whole ecosystem.
Local conserva on advocates were instrumental in achieving these designa ons, both by
providing tes mony to the state that established the scien fic case for protec ng bull kelp
forests, which rely on sub dal rocky areas, and by ensuring that OPAC established a process
through which the public can propose new protec ons in the future.
Here are highlights of the six new protected areas along the Oregon coast:
Ecola Point Marine Conserva on Area

Oregon coast visitors scan for wildlife from the Ecola Point overlook.
Dave Yin/Flickr
Located just north of Cannon Beach and adjacent to Ecola State Park, Ecola Point features
drama c rock forma ons and extensive de pools with healthy mussel beds and a
rebounding popula on of sea stars. This area is also a crucial “haul-out” site for seals and sea
lions to rest and reproduce and is home to nes ng shorebirds and seabirds—the most
threatened groups of birds on our planet.

The goal of this marine conserva on area (MCA) is to protect and strengthen the ecological
integrity of the site, including marine life and bird nes ng areas, and preserve the area’s
wilderness character in the face of increasing tourism and popula on on Oregon’s north
coast.
Chapman Point Marine Educa on Area

An aerial view showcases the seclusion of Chapman Point.
Lidija Kamansky/Ge y Images
At the north end of Cannon Beach, Chapman Point includes a secluded cove with stunning
sandstone rock structures, thriving de pools, and the pris ne Crescent Beach. Locals
frequent Chapman Point to walk, watch sunsets, and view wildlife. Just offshore is the locally
famous Haystack Rock, home to a breeding colony of tu ed puffins. This is one of the most
visited rocky habitats on the coast, pu ng it at high risk of habitat degrada on.

Efforts to designate Chapman and Ecola points were driven by residents who have long
cared for the areas, including by monitoring wildlife ac vity. Margaret Treadwell established
an informal group in 2020 called the North Coast Rocky Habitat Coali on to create the
proposal. Later, Jesse Jones, volunteer coordinator for the CoastWatch program of the
Oregon Shores Conserva on Coali on, rallied support from the city of Cannon Beach and a
local land conservancy that has pledged resources such as interpre ve materials and
volunteer sharing to help build and sustain the educa on and stewardship programs at both
sites.
Cape Lookout Marine Conserva on Area

The drama c Cape Lookout peninsula just into the Pacific Ocean about 80 miles west of Portland. As Audubon Society of
Lincoln City advocate Nora Sherwood writes, the cape features a "cushioned, mossy trail … [with] heart-stopping sheer
cliffs plumme ng 400 feet down to the sea.” Cape Lookout is a remnant of an ancient lava flow from a volcano in eastern
Oregon.
David B. Ledig/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Both Cape Lookout and Cape Foulweather Complex (below) are prime nes ng areas for
seabirds, including the black oystercatcher and the largest colony of pelagic cormorants in
Oregon. Seals also use both areas as haul-out sites. The designa ons will protect all of that

and catalyze preserva on and restora on of healthy kelp forests, which are among the most
produc ve ecosystems on Earth for people and wildlife.
Cape Foulweather Complex Marine Conserva on
Area

Cape Foulweather offers cap va ng vistas that o en include gray whales feeding in offshore kelp beds, seabirds res ng on
sheer cliffs, and waves pounding on rocks.
Don and Melinda Crawford/Universal Images Group
Under the designa ons, the state and steward groups will provide public educa on about
these special places and encourage visitor involvement in their stewardship. This includes
educa ng boaters, drone enthusiasts, and others about how to avoid disturbing nes ng
seabird colonies.

Fogarty Creek Marine Conserva on Area
Fogarty Creek Marine Conserva on Area supports rich biodiversity, including kelp and seagrasses, a variety of birds, and
migra ng Pacific Coast gray whales. At the cliff-rimmed beach, Fogarty Creek cuts through an enchan ng scenic ocean
cove before flowing into the Pacific. The area is popular for birdwatching and de pooling.
Danita Delimont/Ge y Images
The Audubon Society of Lincoln City was the lead proponent for the designa on of both
Cape Lookout and Cape Foulweather Complex. The MCAs provide an ideal opportunity for

collabora on among agencies, Tribes, community groups, and mariners—coopera on that is
essen al for effec ve management of these areas.
Blacklock Point Marine Conserva on Area
Blacklock Point, a rugged headland just north of Cape Blanco, is one of the wildest places on the Oregon coast.
Peter Pearsall/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Blacklock Point offers high inter dal species diversity, in part because of its proximity to
Cape Blanco—which experiences deep and nutrient-rich cold water upwelling just offshore—
and hosts abundant invertebrate species such as mussels, sea stars, and anemones along
with annual bull kelp growth, which in turn brings larger wildlife.
Oregon natural resource agencies, stakeholders, and Tribal Na ons are increasingly
concerned about the present effects of climate change, including ocean acidifica on and
hypoxia, or low-oxygen events in the ocean and nearshore marine environment. As a
rela vely remote area with less visita on, the Blacklock Point Marine Conserva on Area will
be an excellent candidate site for scien fic monitoring to fill gaps in our understanding of a
rapidly changing world.
Visit the Ocean Policy Advisory Council’s webpage to learn more about rocky habitat
designa ons and how they will protect these important coastal areas.
Robert Hayden is an associate manager and Elizabeth Ruther is an officer with The Pew Charitable
Trusts’ conserving marine life in the United States project.
ARTICLE
January 25, 2023
Updated: January 27, 2023
Projects: Conserving Marine Life in the United States
Topics: Ocean Conserva on
Tags: Climate, Fisheries management, Habitat protec on & Kelp
Places: Oregon
AUTHOR
Bobby Hayden
Associate Manager
Conserving Marine Life in the United States
Elizabeth Ruther
Officer
Conserving Marine Life in the United States