Don Sarver is Serving Science with His Fishing Skills
From beach cleanups to family fishing events to ecological monitoring surveys, it’s almost impossible to attend a volunteer event on the central Oregon coast without crossing paths with Don Sarver.
Don is no stranger to Oregon’s marine reserve sites, and he has the badges to prove it. This Newport, Oregon resident is top brass in an army of volunteers that enlist their time, energy and expertise to help power the research activities conducted by the ODFW Marine Reserves Program. Sarver is a dedicated volunteer angler for ODFW’s hook-and-line surveys, which are tracking fish sizes and abundances inside and outside of the reserve sites.
This president of a local fishing club, who’s also certified by ODFW to teach angling skills to the public, was the recipient of ODFW’s Dave Liscia Volunteer Award in 2018 for his outstanding service working in both river and marine systems.
Join us as we talk with this stalwart fisherman and avid volunteer as he shares fish stories, his reasons for volunteering, some of his most memorable moments and what he’s learned about Oregon’s marine reserves in the process.
Over the past several years, researchers studying people’s reactions to Oregon's marine reserves have begun to understand the complex values and experiences that underpin how different communities interact with the ocean in different ways. Many insights from our ongoing human dimensions research centers on the importance of recognizing how and why different stakeholders interact with and value the ocean in different ways.
Understanding and respecting these differences can help us work with different stakeholder groups and to build collaborative relationships within communities. In the end, strong relationships are critical to strong communities that can function effectively in the face of change, rather than wasting time and resources in conflict.
WHO EXACTLY IS A STAKEHOLDER?
The question of “who is a stakeholder?” is important. For example, fishermen and other coastal residents have deep, personal claims, and livelihoods that depend on the ocean. On the other hand state waters are, in a legal sense, owned and protected by all Oregonians. Finding ways to move forward with these competing views of stakeholders is an area where human dimensions research can provide insights, aiding ocean policy and management decision making.
Recent human dimensions research examines the different perspectives of people who interact with the ocean, and especially the experiences and opinions of coastal residents.
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Check out this infographic, highlighting some of the initial findings from the research being conducted by ODFW and our research partners: What Do Coastal Residents Think About Marine Reserves?
INTERESTED IN MORE HUMAN DIMENSIONS RESEARCH?
 Click to watch the video (courtesy of Oregon State Parks)
In need of a little (virtual) escape to the outdoors right about now? Our friends at Oregon State Parks have just the thing for us! Join Ranger Rider on this video tidepool walk at Sunset Bay State Park and see fascinating animals with names like Gumboot Chiton and Purple Ochre Sea Star.
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