Oregon’s Coastal Programs and Communities Are at Risk

Annie Merrill, Oregon Shores’ Marine Conservation Manager, co-authored this op-ed piece for the Lincoln County Leader. It was published July 1st, 2025 and can be viewed here.

June 8 was World Ocean Day, and our state has a lot to celebrate — but we can’t ignore present threats to our coastal environment and economies.

Oregonians love our coast, from iconic Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach to the majestic sea stacks off of our south coast. People come from all over the world to enjoy our state’s amazing coast to enjoy a quiet moment on the beach, kayak through eelgrass meadows or catch a fish in the surf. Our coast, estuaries, and nutrient rich nearshore waters are some of the most productive in the world.

Dungeness crab, oysters, and of course, salmon, are so important to many people’s livelihoods. They help drive a $600-plus million commercial fishing industry supporting many coastal communities. Oregon’s coastal tourism economy is the second largest in the state, drawing millions of visitors and generating over $2 billion a year. It’s no wonder. Oregon’s coast is public and still wild in many places, supporting an amazing array of wildlife including over 1 million nesting seabirds, incredible whale watching, and vibrant tidepools.

It takes a lot of work by many people to ensure our coastal habitats, marine life, and natural resources are well managed so we can enjoy them sustainably for generations to come. All this is now under threat as efforts to downsize and weaken federal agencies by the current presidential administration continue. Many of Oregon’s coastal communities have already been impacted, but the long-term ramifications are just beginning to unfold and may be felt for many years.

Here are just a few examples:

• Twenty-six percent of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Marine Program is federally funded. If these funds dry up, the ability for Oregon to adequately manage sustainable fisheries is at risk.
• OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport is a renowned marine laboratory supporting several agencies. Hatfield has already lost a dozen employees and is bracing for further cuts. Hatfield research provides the science needed to understand changing ocean conditions, help manage habitats and fisheries, and track weather conditions.
• Oregon’s Coastal Management Program is almost entirely funded by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA). The president’s 2026 budget proposes to eliminate this funding. Without this program, Oregon wouldn’t have the ability to support local governments in planning for our state’s interests when reviewing federal actions that impact the coastal environment.

Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) provides critical coastal forecast data that supports national security, mariner and public safety (e.g. tsunami evacuation). This program is on the chopping block as well.

In conjunction with this month’s World Ocean Day, we ask Oregonians to honor our stunning coast while also reflecting on what we stand to lose and what impacts our communities might suffer if these staggering program and agency cuts continue. Now is the time to ask your federal congress person to protect our beloved coast and all it has to offer.

Joe Liebezeit and Annie Merrill of co-chairs of the Oregon Ocean Alliance.