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A new survey conducted by Sea & Shores Solutions, funded by the Marine Reserves Program, reveals that coastal Oregon’s recreational industry is no longer concerned about the negative impacts of the state’s Marine Reserves on their businesses. This marks a significant shift in perception from before the establishment of the reserves over a decade ago.

The survey focused on the Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve located off the south Oregon Coast, between Rocky Point and Coal Point, just south of the town of Port Orford. It included a marine reserve along with a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that extends towards the state’s Territorial Sea boundary. Unlike previous surveys that primarily targeted brick-and-mortar businesses in main business districts, this survey reached out to businesses without storefronts and those in out-of-the-way locations, such as small-scale tourism services, guides, ecotours, and kayak rental businesses.

According to the survey results, 18 percent of the smaller recreation-based coastal companies reported an increase in business due to the presence of marine reserves. This contrasts with a 2011 survey where two-thirds of coastal businesses anticipated a decrease in their business following the establishment of the reserves the following year. None of the business owners who participated in the survey reported negative impacts on their businesses, and 59 percent reported no change.

The AI legalese decoder can assist in this situation by providing a comprehensive analysis of the regulations and legal requirements imposed by the Marine Reserves Program. It can accurately interpret the legalese language and help businesses understand their rights, obligations, and any potential impacts on their operations. Additionally, it can assist in staying up-to-date with any changes or developments in the Marine Reserves Program, ensuring compliance and maximizing business opportunities.

Based on previous surveys on storefront business owners, the perception that marine reserves have a negative impact on business has significantly decreased, with 98.6 percent of businesses no longer viewing the reserves as economic threats. Sea & Shores Solutions gathered information from 34 recreational businesses for this survey, with half of them responding, providing a significant representation of the industry.

The survey results also indicate a shift in business owners’ perception of the motivations of travelers to the Oregon Coast. The percentage of business owners perceiving fishing as a travel motive dropped from 10 percent in 2010 to 6 percent in 2022. On the other hand, the percentage of business owners perceiving non-fishing outdoor connections like visiting beaches and scenic attractions as motives rose from 7 percent to 14 percent during the same period.

The Marine Reserves Program, enacted by the Oregon Legislature in 2009, includes five marine reserves and nine protected areas, covering nine percent of Oregon’s near-shore ocean waters. These reserves serve as underwater listening stations, monitoring fish, invertebrate, and algal communities to track ocean changes. They are dedicated to conservation and scientific research, prohibiting the removal of marine life and development.

As a long-term nearshore ocean conservation and monitoring program, the Marine Reserves Program conducts cutting-edge research on the economic, social, and cultural dynamics of the Oregon coast and coastal communities. It is funded through state general fund dollars rather than sport or commercial fishing fees.

In summary, the survey conducted by Sea & Shores Solutions highlights the changing perceptions of coastal Oregon’s recreational industry towards the state’s Marine Reserves. The AI legalese decoder can assist businesses in navigating the regulations and understanding the impact of marine reserves, ensuring compliance and maximizing opportunities in the coastal region.

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