OPRD Marine plant and Macroalgae collection (2023)

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Background:

Updates to Oregon’s Territorial Sea Plan earlier this year changed regulations and management practices in certain marine protected areas. The department’s proposed rule changes will allow for collection of marine plants and macroalgae in marine protected areas if allowed under management plans for the area. As a part of this update, rocky habitat sites are now eligible for one of three management designations: Marine Research Area, Marine Garden/Education Area and Marine Conservation Area. Goals, regulations and management practices differ for each type of designation.

Proposed rules also eliminate outdated requirements for enrolled members of federally recognized tribes in Oregon to seek a permit before collecting marine plants along the ocean shore. This language is outdated and does not reflect current agency practices. A link to the draft rule changes can be found in the documents below.