Coastal Resident Perceptions of Marine Reserves in Oregon

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Needham, Mark D., Lori A. Cramer, and Elizabeth E. Perry

Publish Date: 2013

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Lindsay Aylesworth

Job Position: Marine Reserves Program Leader

Telephone: 541-867-4741

E-Mail Address: lindsay.x.aylesworth@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: In Oregon, Senate Bill 1510 was enacted in 2012 requiring state natural resource agencies to evaluate, establish, and enforce regulations on five new marine reserves in this state’s coastal waters (i.e., Otter Rock, Redfish Rocks, Cape Falcon, Cape Perpetua, Cascade Head). A number of studies have examined biological issues and impacts associated with these marine reserves. The process for evaluating social and economic impacts associated with these reserves, however, has primarily involved information from community evaluation teams consisting of small groups of stakeholders (e.g., commercial anglers, conservation groups, watershed councils, scientists). Some additional data for evaluating social and economic impacts of these reserves were collected from town hall meetings with select residents, questionnaires given to a small number of specific industries or stakeholder groups (e.g., commercial and recreational anglers), and other observational data. Taken together, these efforts mainly involved economic stakeholders and vocal residents thought to be most directly affected by the marine reserves. What has been lacking, however, is a comprehensive, systematic, and representative assessment of coastal resident perceptions regarding these new marine reserves. A scientifically grounded random and representative selection of residents living along the entire Oregon coast, especially in areas near these reserves (i.e., communities of place), is required for generalizing information beyond select groups to citizens living along the coast, including those who may be potentially affected the most by these reserves. This project, therefore, addressed this knowledge gap by utilizing representative samples of residents along the Oregon coast (i.e., essentially the voting public) to understand their knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions in response to these reserves. Project objectives were to understand coastal resident: • Awareness of these marine reserves and sources of information for learning about the areas. • Knowledge of the characteristics, benefits, and constraints of these marine reserves. • Attitudes of support and opposition toward these reserves (i.e., favor, disfavor, like, dislike). • Perceptions about the future effectiveness of these reserves in meeting management goals. • Opinions about activities that should and should not be allowed to occur in these reserves. • Behavioral intentions in response to these reserves and how residents may change their use of these areas in the future (e.g., increase or displace any visitation / recreation use). • Socio-demographic characteristics.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content:

Geographic Extent: Oregon Coast

Status: Final

Use Constraints: Prepared for Oregon Dept. Fish and Wildlife by Oregon State University, Dept. Forest Ecosystems and Society; and Natural Resources, Tourism, and Recreation Studies Lab (NATURE)

Format: PDF

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Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown