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As Oregonians, we have a responsibility to be good stewards to our environment, on land and at sea. Though we have protected state parks and other on-shore areas, the places immediately offshore, key habitats for whales, fish birds and crabs are not protected. Worldwide, less then one percent of the ocean is protected. We have no assurance that our ocean waters will flourish in the future. Currently, there are indicators that our coastal ecosystems are in decline (die-offs of baitfish, seabirds, ever increasing dead zones and other species). By establishing a network of marine reserves and protected areas in Oregon?s Ocean, we will ensure that healthy ecosystems continue to drive our ocean (by giving species safe havens from human impacts) and flourish for future generations to enjoy.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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