In Oregon, the beaches belong to the people.

Let’s use our collective power to push the state of Oregon to further protect critical coastal ecosystems. 💪 Will you take 10 minutes to testify in support of the Rocky Habitat Stewardship Bill (HB 3587)? We have a helpful how-to guide linked in our bio. 🌊

Oregon’s rocky habitats are biologically, culturally and economically important. They support a wealth of marine life including over a million nesting seabirds, marine mammals, kelp beds, and myriad fish and invertebrate species. Rocky habitats attract millions of visitors enjoying recreational activities from tidepooling to fishing helping support a 2+ billion dollar tourism industry. Rocky habitats support our commercial fisheries, too!

Rocky habitats are increasingly vulnerable to disturbance and climate change impacts. With the adoption of the new Rocky Habitat Management Strategy (RHMS) the time is right to invest in balanced protection and responsible use of our iconic coastal rocky habitats. Current agency and community capacity is insufficient to fully implement the RHMS, which is why, as a member of the Oregon Ocean Alliance, we proposed this bill in Salem. 💪

#protectthecoast #oregoncoast #coastalconservation #climateresilience #estuaryprotection #eelgrass #rockyhabitat ...

🌊 Action Alert! 🌊 Take matters into your own hands: submit public testimony urging Oregon legislators to prioritize protecting Oregon’s invaluable coastal ecosystems.

HOW TO:
1. Use our testimony toolkit (link in bio) to write a brief letter expressing why coastal habitats are important for supporting marine biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, and coastal communities.
2. Urge the house committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water to support HB 3580 and HB 3587, which aim to conserve Oregon’s eelgrass meadows and rocky habitats.
3. Submit your testimony before March 6 (use link in the bio to see how).

Need some inspiration? Here are some reasons why we think everyone should care about rocky habitats and eelgrass meadows:

🦀 Eelgrass meadows and rocky habitats in Oregon are sensitive marine habitats that are home to juvenile rockfish, Dungeness crab, and other commercially important fish and shellfish.
🌊 These epicenters of rich marine biodiversity are increasingly vulnerable to escalating disturbances from people, marine heat waves, and other impacts.
💚 Eelgrass meadows provide a number of climate resilience benefits that strengthen coastal communities in the face of changing ocean conditions.
👏 Oregon’s iconic rocky habitats are visited by millions of people every year. Passing this legislation will help protect them for future generations.

#oregonoceanalliance #oregoncoast #oceanhealth ...

It’s World Seagrass Day! 🌊

Seagrasses are underwater plants that evolved from land plants. They are like terrestrial plants in that they have leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, and connective tissues, and they make their food through photosynthesis. 💚 Unlike terrestrial plants, however, they do not have strong stems to hold themselves up—instead they’re supported by the buoyancy of the water that surrounds them.

💪 Seagrasses are a very important food source and habitat for wildlife, supporting a diverse community of organisms. Help us protect eelgrass (a type of seagrass) meadows by supporting Eelgrass Action Bill (HB 3580). Learn more and use our easy how-to guide, link in bio.

#seagrass #worldseagrassday ...

🌊 Action Alert! 🌊 Will you help us get the new Eelgrass Action Bill off the ground? Please use the following steps to submit testimony, urging Oregon legislators to support the Eelgrass Action Bill (HB 3580). 

HOW TO:
1. Use our testimony toolkit (link in bio) to write a brief letter expressing why coastal habitats are important for supporting marine biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, and coastal communities.
2. Urge the house committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water to support HB 3580 and HB 3587, which aim to conserve Oregon’s eelgrass meadows and rocky habitats.
3. Submit your testimony before March 6 (use link in the bio to see how).

Need some inspiration? Here are some reasons why we think everyone should care about eelgrass:
🐟Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a vital indicator of estuarine health, supporting biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal resilience. Healthy eelgrass meadows create nursery habitats for juvenile salmon, Dungeness crab, rockfish, and herring, ensuring the sustainability of Oregon’s marine ecosystems.
💰Beyond its ecological role, eelgrass sustains coastal economies, providing jobs in fisheries, tourism, aquaculture, and scientific research. It also holds cultural significance for coastal Tribal Nations, supporting traditional practices and food sources.
🦀Oregon has lost 24% of its estuary habitat since 1870, and up to 90% loss of eelgrass meadows has been observed in Coos Bay in recent years. The full extent of eelgrass loss remains unknown due to limited data, making conservation efforts more challenging. 
👊The Eelgrass Action Bill represents a crucial step toward protecting and restoring essential estuary habitats. By advancing research, monitoring, and conservation strategies, Oregon can ensure eelgrass meadows continue to support marine life, coastal communities, and climate adaptation efforts for generations to come. 

📷: Melissa Ward

#oregonoceanalliance #oregoncoast #oceanhealth ...

Spotted a tiny ochre star in a tidepool? That’s a big deal! 🌟

These resilient sea stars were devastated by sea star wasting syndrome about a decade ago, which wiped out much of their population along the West Coast. But now, seeing young ochre stars clinging to the rocks is a hopeful sign of recovery! Their return is crucial for maintaining the balance of intertidal ecosystems.

Keep an eye out on your next tidepooling adventure—every little star is a victory for Oregon’s coastal waters! ✨💙

#Tidepool #OchreStar #OregonCoast #protectthecoast #wildoregon #naturephotography #oregonexplored #oregonadventures #pnwlife #protectnature ...

We need your voice to pass the Eelgrass Action Bill (HB 3580).

Eelgrass, Oregon’s most common seagrass, plays a vital ecological role in the state’s estuaries. 💚 An estuary is where freshwater from rivers and streams meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean. 🌊 This marine plant roots into the mud and sand, and creates structured habitats that support salmon, Dungeness crab, and water birds. Beyond its ecological value, eelgrass helps mitigate climate change by storing carbon, reducing ocean acidification, and protecting coastal communities from storms and floods. However, this essential habitat is disappearing due to pollution, dredging, development, and sea level rise. We need to act now before it’s too late.

To protect Oregon’s eelgrass, a collaborative, grassroots movement is needed, bringing together local communities, sovereign Tribal governments, and policymakers at all levels. The Eelgrass Action Bill (HB 3580) aims to do just that. We invite you to join us in writing to your legislators to profess your love of eelgrass and rocky habitats with a Valentine’s Day card. See the instructions via the link in our bio.

📷: Melissa Ward, Kat Beheshti, Steve Clabuesch, Austin Williams, Alanna Kieffer
#protectthecoast #oregoncoast #coastalconservation #climateresilience #estuaryprotection #eelgrass ...