Oregon Coast For All

Celebrating A Month of Marine Reserves! What habitats and species exist in Oregon’s marine reserves?

Oregon’s marine reserves protect a diversity of ocean habitats, from the shoreline to the seafloor. Each ecosystem plays a unique role in supporting various marine species and contributes to the overall health of the coast. 🌊

In the intertidal zone, life is shaped by the rise and fall of the tides. Rocky tidepools shelter ochre sea stars, aggregating and giant green anemones anemones, California mussels, hermit crabs, various snails, and diverse algae species, all adapted to survive exposure to sun, wind, and waves.

 
Below the surface, rocky reef habitats provide structure and sanctuary amidst the constant surge of the sea. Rockfish, lingcod, bull kelp, sea stars, wolf eels, giant pacific octopus, and more rely on these hard-bottom areas for food, shelter, and reproduction.

Kelp forests serve as "underwater rainforests" of our coastline, primarily composed of fast-growing bull kelp. This towering habitat serves as a vital nursery where juvenile rockfish and snails hide from predators, gray whales feast on mysid shrimp and sea urchins graze along the seafloor. Beyond supporting wildlife, these forests are true climate heroes; they are powerhouses of carbon sequestration that help de-acidify local waters and act as a natural buffer for our shorelines against heavy winter storms. 

Sandy-bottom habitats may appear empty, but they are full of life beneath the surface. Clams, worms, flatfish, crabs, sea pens, and burrowing animals live within the sand, recycling nutrients and supporting the marine food web. 🦀

 
Together, these connected habitats show how marine reserves protect not just individual species, but entire ocean systems.

Next, learn about the science that takes place in the reserves!

 
Follow along with @odfwmarine and @oregonmarinereservepartners for marine reserve information! ...

When it comes to changing color, no crab on the Oregon Coast does it better than the kelp crab! The colors can vary in browns, yellowish greens, and reds. This remarkable ability comes from absorbing the pigmentation of the algae it eats and allows it to blend seamlessly into the background. 🌞

The habitat range for kelp crab extends from Southern Alaska to Baja California. They prefer nice, dark homes with plenty of places to hide. So kelp forests, rocky shorelines, eelgrass, and even pilings are all ideal habitats. Kelp crabs are adapted to have a “velcro-like" rough texture on the tips of their legs, which helps them cling to eelgrass and kelp. Next time you’re tidepooling, make sure to keep an eye out for them in eelgrass meadows or among seaweed! 🌿

Kelp crabs are incredibly important for maintaining the balance in the marine ecosystem. Halibut, Kelpfish, Woolly Sculpin, and Sea Otters all depend on Kelp Crabs as a vital food source. 🍽️

Interestingly, the relationship between kelp crab and bull kelp remains a mystery. Ongoing research is underway to investigate how the presence of kelp crab influences kelp growth. Continuing restoration efforts for eelgrass and kelp forests ensures the longevity of these fascinating species! ...

Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples have been in relationship with the lands that we live, work, and play on today throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest since time immemorial and continue to be a vibrant part of Oregon today.

One month ago, @everydaychinook
@lewisandclarknps @noaadebris @marinedebris911 @oregonshores and @oregonstateparks
unveiled a stunning new permanent art display at Sunset Beach State Park at the Fort to Sea Trailhead parking lot.

Created from debris collected along our coastline, this artwork tells a deeper story about our connection to the ocean and the growing impact of marine pollution on coastal ecosystems. It honors the cultural and ecological importance of salmon in the Pacific Northwest and invites us to reflect on how everyday actions affect the health of our beaches, waterways, and marine life.

When reflecting on this culminating event after more than a year of work, Marine Debris Artist Elizabeth Roberts wrote,

"Too often native people are referred to in the past tense, however we are still here, speaking our languages and practicing our cultures and traditions. That point was made very apparent during the early development stages of this project and validated my decision to pursue bringing visibility to north coast tribes.

I am very grateful that the Chinook Nation agreed to partner with me on this project, and honored that Tony Johnson, artist and Chairman of the Chinook Nation, entrusted me with his designs and to accurately represent Chinookan art and culture. I am grateful for the freedom they gave me to follow my heart with this project and their trust in my vision.

This project has truly embodied what we Cherokee call Gadugi, one of our core community values that essentially means working together for the greater good of all. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and hope that this work inspires all who encounter it to become better caretakers of Mother Earth. May the people remember their promise to the salmon, as the salmon continue to remember and uphold their promise to the people. Wado."

#oregonshores #everydaychinook #makeartnottrash #noaamarinedebris ...

A couple weekends ago, 17 people joined @healthywavesprima for her second annual Mile Meetup on Mile 285 at Cape Meares on the North Oregon Coast.

👏 Prior to the event, Prima hosted a raffle and raised $500 for @oregonshorescc !! 👏 Nineteen people donated to support educating people about our fragile coastal ecosystem and human impacts, such as marine debris, on this landscape. Prima is a stellar advocate for Oregon Shores and the CoastWatch Adopt-a-Mile Program. Thank you, Prima, for all your work to keep these programs sustainable!

💙 Prima has brought together a diverse group of partners from all walks of life, cultural, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds. Her passion for this unique mile of the Oregon coast and about the Coastwatch Program inspired local folks to share information about efforts to protect the dunes, nesting plovers, and more with inland participants. In the end, she created an opportunity for strangers to become friends through a shared love of our ocean planet.

🚮 During the event, we put words into action. We found and removed several buckets of debris. Two large anchored marine debris items that we had noticed last year, still remained but were almost buried in the sand.

🪶 In the wrack line, we found a mackerel, brown pelican, and a Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, largely intact. Amazingly, Wendy, a local resident and @coasst_uw Beached Bird Surveyor, happened to be on the beach with us. When we shared the location of the storm petrel, we learned it was located in their survey area!

🌊 Prima started this event last year to honor her marine biology teacher and nearly doubled the volunteer participation this year. She hopes to continue building on this momentum and perhaps even triple participation in 2027. We at Oregon Shores are so proud of her accomplishments, generosity, love for the ocean, and talent. Go Prima!

👉 Want to adopt your own mile of the Oregon Coast? Visit the Adopt-A-Mile webpage at @oregonshorescc to get started!

#Oregonshores #adoptamile #coastwatch #beachcleanup ...

How do we celebrate World Ocean Day? 🐙

@oregonshorescc celebrates World Ocean Day by connecting people to the Oregon Coast through community science, stewardship, and coastal education. Every beach walk, tidepool lesson, outdoor classroom experience, and volunteer survey helps protect the places we love.

Yesterday, the @oregoncoastaquarium hosted a wonderful @worldoceanday event where our staff was tabling alongside over a dozen of our favorite partner organizations. Throughout the day, visitors were guided around the aquarium by their World Ocean Day passport that featured a question to ask each organization.

At the Oregon Shores` table our question was:

Q: What year did the Oregon legislature pass the Beach Bill?

A: 1967

This bill declares that Oregon Beaches are public land for everyone to enjoy!

We hope that you`re able to celebrate World Ocean Day by visiting your local beach soon.

#oregonshores #wod #worldoceanday #oregoncoastforall ...

Celebrate World Ocean Day with @oregonshorescc and over a dozen of our partners on June 7 at the @oregoncoastaquarium in Newport, OR!

🗓 Sunday, June 7
🕙 10am - 4pm
📍 @oregoncoastaquarium in Newport, OR
🔗 Read more at the Upcoming Events link in @oregonshorescc bio

Meet Rachel Freeman, our Education Manager, to learn more about Oregon’s incredible coastal ecosystems, community science opportunities, and ways you can help care for our ocean.

At the start of your visit, you`ll get a passport to guide you through the day`s activities. The more things you do, the more spaces you`ll fill in your passport. At the end of your visit, your passport becomes your ticket to win raffle prizes!

#OregonShoresCC #oregoncoastaquarium #wod2026 ...

Calling all beach walkers and agate lovers!

Come join @oregonshorescc and @cityofnewportore The Newport 60+ Activity Center on a guided walk along one of Oregon’s beach miles as we introduce the CoastWatch program, learn about other community science opportunities, and complete a mile report together.

🗓 Tuesday, June 2, 2026
🕙 1:00pm - 3:00pm

📍Agate Beach in Newport, Oregon (Mile 217)

💲 FREE and family friendly.
🐾 Well behaved dogs on leash are welcome.

🔗 Sign up and learn more on our Upcoming Events webpage (link in bio)

This casual, hands-on outing is open to everyone from current Adopt-a-Mile volunteers to anyone curious about getting involved. It’s a great way to learn about the power of observation, connect with others who care about the coast, and experience the beauty of the Oregon Coast.

#OregonShoresCC
#adoptamile #coastwatch #newportor ...