Statement of Governor Kulongoski to Oregon Fishing Industry Representatives
"Thank you for coming here today. I appreciate your candor. Please know that I am listening and that no Marine Reserves will be established without even more input from you and the other stakeholders. The people who live and work on the ocean must have a place at the table. That table is the OPAC process and I am asking for your robust participation.
But as you participate, here’s something you should be aware of. I am making this commitment to you today:
- I am asking FERC to limit the permitting of wave energy to 5 to 7 sites. This way we can make longer-range decisions about both wave parks and energy generation informed by science and after careful analysis of the economic and social effects of these new uses of the ocean. To assure that such analysis is as complete as necessary and to ensure that FERC takes our concerns about effects seriously, I will give serious consideration to asking state agencies and OPAC to amend the Territorial Sea Plan to address wave energy. That amendment would trigger amendment of Oregon’s Coastal Zone Management Plan which FERC must pay attention to as it sites energy projects in the future.
- I am encouraging OPAC to limit its recommendations for reserves to less than 10 reserve sites that are large enough to provide for scientifically testing the ecological benefits they might produce, but small enough to avoid economic or social impacts, such as loss of significant fishing opportunities.
- While I am eager for OPAC to provide its recommendations on reserves, I will assure you that I will not advocate for implementation of those recommendations until funding has been identified to address monitoring, enforcement and scientific research required to properly implement a system of reserves.
- I am committed to working closely with fishermen and coastal communities as we move forward with reserves and wave energy. As part of this commitment, I will be dispatching my Chief of Staff, Chip Terhune, to the coast to continue conversations with coastal communities. The new ocean uses must benefit - not disrupt - existing economic and recreational uses of our ocean.
Again I thank you for coming. This has been a very productive conversation and very helpful as we move forward to ensure that Oregon’s oceans continue thrive for all uses."
Contact:
Patty Wentz, 503-378-6169
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
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