YOUR GROUP'S TASK...
is to recommend to the coastal community which area or areas should be included as a no-take marine reserve for the Oregon ocean. Your group can also recommend that no marine reserve be established, or that the entire area on the map be established as a marine reserve. Whatever your recommendation, your group must justify your decision based on the information given to you and your own good judgement.

While these have been proposed as no-take areas, you may alter that proposal if you want, as long as you provide justification to the community. For instance, you may decide to allow some human activity in a proposed no-take reserve area if you have good reason to do so.

Your group has been given a series of maps showing the proposed marine reserve areas, physical and biological characteristics for the area, and human activity in the area. Additionally, you have been given a stack of cards that provide other information. These should be dealt to you would deal cards in a card game. They all contain different information, so each member of the group must familiarize themselves with the information they do have and be willing to share it. The information came from reports and testimony regarding marine reserves, and statements made by meeting participants discussing marine reserves.

A good way to start is to lay out the maps so that all can see them. Remember that we are just beginning to learn about our ocean, and that we know relatively little. Then review the information given and decide, as a group, what your recommendations will be. As you proceed, consider the following:

What marine reserve area(s), if any, should be recommended?
Considerations:
1. whether a single marine reserve or a network of marine reserves is best
2. the present and pass uses of the area by fishers, mammals and birds, and others
3. currents and upwelling patterns
4. distances from fishing ports to fishing grounds remaining open
5. evidence of breeding, nursery and rearing areas
6. the effects of the reserve on fishing communities and livelihoods
7. others?



What other issues affect the recommendation?
1. How much time should the marine reserve be in effect?
2. possible disruption of human activity on fish, marine mammals and birds
3. the need for research and monitoring, if one exists
4. the expected concentration of fishing effort at the boundaries of the newly created marine reserve
whether or not the boundaries of he marine reserve should change if it is found that a change is needed
5. Are there exceptions to the no-take rule that could be allowed for your recommended marine reserve?
6. Could educational activities be allowed, if a need exists?
7. possible economic solutions to help reduce the effects of prohibited fishing or increased competition on the fishing grounds
8. how the fishing industry could be convinced to support the marine reserve proposal
9. the possibility of using more restricted fishing rules to accomplish the goals for the fishery, without the use of marine reserves

When your group has decided what to recommend, give a short presentation to the larger group on your findings. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. Marine reserves are simply a proposed tool to use in building sustainable fisheries over time and protecting important ocean habitat. The experience you have in this activity is similar to the process fishery managers, fishers, and coastal communities in Oregon are dealing with now to build sustainable fisheries and protect important ocean habitats for the future ñ your future.