Marine Reserves News: Diving Into Our Living Laboratories
ODFW sent this bulletin at 01/14/2016 12:06 AM PST
Click on the image to see a video on training scientific divers to monitor Oregon’s marine reserves. A team of wetsuit-clad divers sit on the edge of a boat adjusting their masks before splashing into the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. These divers belong to a specialized scientific research team--and the marine reserves are their living laboratories. The team’s mission: to survey the shallow rocky reefs of Oregon’s marine reserves. This team is trained to collect data on fish, invertebrates, and algae in an environment that is often challenging to work in. These divers use a well-established survey method developed by the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), and used by other scientists along the U.S. west coast to monitor changes inside and outside of marine reserves. SCUBA dive surveys are one of the four core tools being used in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW’s) monitoring of Oregon’s marine reserves. So, what makes this dive team special? First of all, all the divers are volunteers with scientific diving certifications. Second, they must pass a special training put on by ODFW and our partners at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, PISCO, and Oregon State University. We are currently looking for new volunteers to join the Marine Reserves Scientific Dive Team. For those interested, a free two-day methods training will be offered in February 2016 at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. Divers must be a current AAUS scientific diver, own their own annually inspected SCUBA gear (including drysuit), attend both days of training and be comfortable diving in coastal Oregon conditions (low visibility, cold water, surge, etc.). If you’re interested in joining the February training, please email Doug Batson at: doug.batson@aquarium.org. Exact dates of the February training will be determined soon. Visit our Blog to read more about our SCUBA surveys and to see more photos.  CAPE FALCON MARINE RESERVE
2016 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. Now available online 2016 Commercial Fisheries Synopsis On the Oregon Marine Reserves website By calling the ODFW Newport office at (541) 867-4741
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