Nearshore Ocean
Rocky Habitats
We advocate for enhanced protection for Oregon’s rocky intertidal and subtidal habitats.
Advocate for Rocky Shores
Establishing Protection
Oregon’s headlands, tidepools, rocky beaches, cliffs, and offshore rocks (collectively about 41% of the state’s 362-mile shoreline) are managed by multiple state and federal agencies using a coordinated framework known as the Territorial Sea Plan.
Oregon’s policies governing the management of rocky shore areas had become long out of date. They had been adopted during the 1990s and never fully implemented. Oregon Shores urged the state’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) to begin working toward updating these policies, which are part of the Territorial Sea Plan, the package of regulations that govern the management of Oregon’s state waters, out to the three-mile limit. OPAC concurred and created a special working group to consider new policies.
Oregon Shores participated in the long process of developing a new Rocky Habitat Management Strategy. OPAC recommended the strategy, which the Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted as Part Three of the Territorial Sea Plan.
Site Designations
One feature of the strategy involves “site designations”—particular levels of recognition for key habitat areas. This process requires the public (whether individuals, organizations, or community-organized campaigns) to suggest sites and prepare detailed proposals to advocate for site designation.
Under the strategy, there are three types of site designations with various levels of protection:
- Marine Education Area or “Marine Garden”: focused on public education and non-regulatory management aimed at stewardship, with restrictions on shellfish or seaweed harvest
- Marine Research Area: focused on scientific research, with management similar to marine gardens.
- Marine Conservation Area: focused on conservation, with restrictions on shellfish, seaweed, and fish harvest, along with an emphasis on site stewardship.
These designations encourage greater stewardship and protection of our rocky habitats and limit exploitation by coastal visitors interacting with these sensitive ecosystems.
The first round of public proposals for site designations occurred in 2021-2022. It was a difficult pilot process resulting in eight of 12 sites proposed by community groups, including Oregon Shores, being designated in 2023. The sites approved include Ecola Point, Chapman Point, Cape Lookout, Fogarty Creek, Cape Foulweather, Coquille Point, Blacklock Point, Cape Blanco, and Coquille Point.
CoastWatch Program Manager Jesse Jones assisted citizens involved in several proposals, particularly those at Blacklock Point, Chapman Point, and Ecola Point.
Oregon Shores is also part of the Rocky Habitat Partnership-a coalition formed to advocate for these sites. Stakeholder outreach and coordination continue to be vital to this work, and will be needed again if there are future campaigns for new site designations.
Now What?
The Rocky Habitat Partnership is currently helping DLCD’s Rocky Habitat Coordinator develop management plans for all the new rocky habitat sites.
Oregon Shores supporters can get involved in this process and help to make the strategy effective by monitoring the designated sites, educating visitors about them, and reporting violations of the rules for these critical habitat areas. It takes a network of concerned community members to protect our rocky shores.
Continuing to Advocate
Following Through with Implementation
Oregon Shores is leading the charge in advocating for the effective implementation of the Rocky Habitat Management Strategy. To ensure management plans of rocky habitat sites are robust and community groups are resourced to steward the sites, the state needs to invest in the program and add capacity to the communities and resource agencies that implement the program.
Through our work with the Oregon Ocean Alliance, we are campaigning for the passage of the Rocky Habitat Stewardship Bill in the 2025 legislature. This bill invests in our rocky habitats and community groups, to sustain the program in the long term.
Become a CoastWatcher to Help Monitor Rocky Habitats
More About Ocean Conservation
Our Programs and Campaigns
The Oregon Ocean Alliance
Oregon Shores is one of eight founding members of the Oregon Ocean Alliance, who collectively aim to advance the protection of Oregon’s ocean and coastal ecosystems.
Marine Legislation
The 2025 legislative session offers a unique opportunity to advocate for conservation and urge decision-makers to prioritize Oregon’s invaluable coastal ecosystems