Ocean planning in Oregon is focused on protecting marine resources and the ecological functions that provide long-term economic and social benefits for all Oregonians. Maritime activities, like fishing, recreation, tourism, transportation, scientific research and education, traditional cultural practices, and sightseeing are important to the State and local economies. The ocean is a large, publicly owned area where many different uses are supported. The goal of ocean planning is to reduce conflict between these wide-ranging activities and ensure that they are carried out in a sustainable manner, consistent with
Statewide Land Use Planning Goal 19: Ocean Resources.
Ocean users, along with state and federal agencies, are faced with the challenge of maintaining the health of the ocean ecosystem. Today, traditional uses of the ocean are increasing and new potential uses, such as renewable energy development and ocean aquaculture, are emerging.
Below is a list of publications and information resources available to policy makers when considering new ocean policy or management program changes.
Oregon Ocean Information Website
The Oregon Ocean Information website was created to support policy decision making and changes to Oregon's Territorial Sea Plan. It also serves as a single go-to site for other ocean-related activities, councils, GIS data and online mapping tools, like Oregon SeaSketch. It is the web site for the Ocean Policy Advisory Council and the Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Coordination Council.
Oregon Territorial Sea Plan
Oregon has jurisdiction over a strip of ocean water adjacent to the shore that is three nautical miles wide, called the Territorial Sea. Oregon has a Territorial Sea Plan for this area which applies to state and federal agency programs and activities that take place there. Go to the Territorial Sea Plan page for more information.
Goal 19 – The Ocean Resources Planning Goal
Statewide Planning Goal 19 addresses matters related to open ocean resources and aims "to conserve the long-term values, benefits, and natural resources of the nearshore ocean and the continental shelf."
Goal 19 deals with matters such as dumping dredge spoils and discharge of waste products into the open sea and prioritizes the protection of renewable marine resources over the development of non-renewable resources. It outlines state interest in conserving resources within the Ocean Stewardship Area, which includes Oregon's territorial sea out to 3 nautical miles as well as the continental margin seaward to the toe of the continental slope, and adjacent ocean areas.
Goal 19 was updated in late 2000 by the Land Conservation and Development Commission. Since 1977 this goal has guided Oregon's policy and management of ocean resources. This is one of the most pertinent "applicable elements" of the Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP) referred to in the law.
The Ocean Plan
The Oregon Ocean Resources Management Plan, commonly referred to as the "Ocean Plan", was approved on December 12, 1990, by the Land Conservation and Development Commission. State law states that "the Territorial Sea Plan shall be based on the policies and recommendations of the Oregon Ocean Resources Management Plan."
The Oregon Ocean Resources Management Plan, commonly referred to as the "Ocean Plan", was prepared by the 1987 Ocean Resources Management Task Force which was established by the 1987 Oregon Legislature.
The Task Force held a series of community listening meetings on the Oregon coast to find out what issues were of concern to the public. Their study covered a wide variety of existing and potential ocean resource management issues off Oregon in both state and federal ocean areas. The Ocean Plan recommends future state policies for most of these issues.
The Ocean Plan was not confined just to state ocean waters. A number of issues involving the federal ocean area, such as oil and gas drilling and marine mineral exploration, were discussed and policies developed. Its policy recommendations for important marine habitat were meant to apply to the continental margin off Oregon, not just state waters.
Although they are not "mandatory" [there is no enforcement], the 1991 Legislature recognized that these policies were important guideposts or starting points for a more detailed plan and policies aimed at Oregon's Territorial Sea where the state does have jurisdiction.
Ocean Plan Table of Contents
Here are links to the chapters of the Oregon Ocean Resources Management Plan. Each linked document is in PDF format.
The Ocean Book
The Ocean Book was written by Tish Parmenter and Bob Bailey and published in 1985. It focuses on the ocean environment: from the coastline to roughly 200 miles offshore, from Cape Mendocino, California to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Ocean Book brings together basic oceanography and research data to describe Oregon's ocean.
Ocean Policy Email Notification
DLCD manages an email service that provides users ocean policy-related public notices and general information. It also includes details on upcoming OPAC meetings and events. Sign up here.
Special Topics in Ocean Planning
Oregon's territorial sea has been identified as a favorable location for siting renewable energy facilities for research, demonstration and commercial power development. These facilities may vary in the type and extent of the technologies used and will require various equipment to be connected and attached to the seafloor. Then energy can be transferred to a power substation on land. Oregon requires proper siting and development of these facilities in order to minimize damage to natural resources or conflicts with other existing ocean uses. These actions will reduce or avoid adverse effects on marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
In 2019, the state amended the Territorial Sea Plan (TSP) to add a chapter (Part Five) about the development of marine renewable energy within state waters. To learn more about the plan for managing the TSP for marine renewable energy read Part Five or visit https://www.oregonocean.info.
Outside of state waters, regulatory authority for the development of marine renewable energy is shared by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The State of Oregon maintains an interest and is an active participant in the activities that occur on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) beyond the State's Territorial Sea boundaries. However, OCMP may review these proposals based upon the approval by NOAA of a Geographic Location Description (GLD). To learn about GLDs, visit our Federal Consistency webpage.
DLCD is also helped to lead a study (the Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment) on the siting of potential renewable energy development across the state with the Oregon Department of Energy. Visit the Renewable Energy webpage for more information.
Oil and Gas Leasing
Through a statutory moratorium, Oregon prohibits oil and gas development within the Territorial Sea. In early 2018, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) provided an opportunity for states to comment on the development of the U.S. Department of Interior's five-year National Draft Proposed Program for Oil and Gas Leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf for 2019-2024. In February 2018, Oregon provided a short letter stating a detailed set of comments was forthcoming. In March, a comprehensive 35-page letter was provided to BOEM that had comments from each affected state agency, including DLCD. The department is responsible for coordinating Oregon ocean planning activities and will continue to participate in any future BOEM leasing process. On behalf of Oregon’s policies our priority is for regulated activities to align with Oregon's Statewide Land Use Planning Goal 19 for Ocean Resources.
Marine Reserves
A marine reserve is an area within Oregon's Territorial Sea or adjacent rocky intertidal area that is protected from all extraction activities. This includes the removal or disturbance of living and non-living marine resources, except as necessary for monitoring or research to evaluate the marine reserve condition, effectiveness, or impact of stressors (OPAC Policy Recommendations Document, 2008).
Oregon currently has five sites designated as marine reserves: Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, Otter Rock, Cape Perpetua, and Redfish Rocks. Each are named for local natural landmarks. Removal of marine life is prohibited, along with any type of ocean development.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) manages and monitors these five sites to gain a better understanding of marine reserve protections, our nearshore waters, and coastal communities.
For more information, go to:
Oregon Ocean Information website, Marine Reserves
Oregon Marine Reserves website (ODFW)
The Rocky Habitat Management Strategy
Managing Oregon's rocky coastline is a shared responsibility. In the fall of 2018, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) gathered decision makers across the state to conduct an amendment to the Rocky Habitat Management Strategy (Part Three) of the Oregon Territorial Sea Plan (TSP). The plan acts as a coordinated vision for marine resources in Oregon and guides the actions of state and federal agencies that are responsible for managing coastal and ocean resources held in the public trust.
Five years later, on April 20, 2023, the Land Conservation and Development Commission unanimously adopted an amendment to Part Three. The decision completed a process that added eight new management areas that reflect the needs of the communities that proposed them.
Rocky Habitat Management Areas focus on balancing use and conservation through the enhancement of visitor experiences with education and interpretation to limit wildlife disturbance and habitat degradation.
The designations completed a multiple year effort led by the Ocean Policy Advisory Council to revise the Management Strategy and was focused on site management designations along areas of Oregon’s iconic rocky shoreline. The effort included extensive input from agencies, organizations, governments, and general rocky coast users on revisions to the Plan.
Learn more about the marine designations and the communities and agencies that are working to implement them on the
Oregon Ocean Information website.