We are Oregon's marine experiment station, focusing on sustainability of our marine resources and best use and safety of our seafood. Our collaborators include government agencies, the fishing and seafood industry, and local communities.
The Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station – the first marine experiment station in the nation – came into existence following a lobbying effort by Oregon's fishermen for more applied research in fishing management and marketing. This idea, first broached in 1985, was adopted in 1989, when the Station – incorporating the previously established Astoria Laboratory – was officially established.
Our Mission
The Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station conducts research to understand, utilize, and sustain marine resources and coastal ecosystems in order to benefit the citizens of Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, the Nation, and the World. In furtherance of this mission, the long term goals of the Station are to:
- Increase economic and social benefits from wise use, management, and sustainability of the State’s valuable marine resources and coastal ecosystems.
- Develop new or improved seafood products and efficient production processes that provide safer and higher valued seafood.
- Develop new and improved aquaculture products, processes and systems.
- Improve marketing efficiency and expand the export and domestic markets for Oregon’s seafood products.
- Develop systems for protecting living marine resources from diseases, genetic depletion, and other hazards.
- Support beneficial economic development of coastal Oregon communities.
- Communicate knowledge to students, scientists, managers, industry, and the public that supports wise utilization and sustainability of marine resources.
- Teach, advise, and mentor undergraduate and graduate students who become future leaders in marine science and resource management.
To accomplish these goals, faculty at the Marine Experiment Station will develop effective partnerships with on-campus faculty, departments, and colleges, Oregon seafood industry, OSU Cooperative Extension Service, Oregon Sea Grant Program, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries, and other state, federal and non-governmental organizations.
Feeding The Future
Through better fishing practices and improved technology, we've greatly increased our supply of food from the ocean. But this increased efficiency, which can significantly reduce targeted fish populations, has threatened this supply, now and for the future. Moving fisheries toward sustainability has become the primary focus of many agencies and organizations around the world.
The goal is to allow the harvesting of the greatest weight of fish while ensuring that an adequate number of young fish remain for reproduction of that species at a sustainable level. Tools used in supporting this goal include catch limits or quotas, set for various species. Quotas regulate the number of fish taken, allowing the species a chance to rebuild its population. But before quotas can be set, regulators need to know the size of each population. Fish surveys, done by agencies such as NOAA, provide the size, age and sex of typical populations. Tagging is used to study migration patterns and numbers of fish caught. Sonar scans and underwater cameras are used to estimate populations of deepwater fishes. And predator/prey relationships are studied since it's critical to maintain a balance in the marine food web. For more information on fisheries management, see David Sampson's notes on stock assessment.
Working Waterfronts
Working waterfronts can be defined as places where the businesses that surround that waterfront are dependent on access to water, for deep-draft or shallow-draft boat passage and dockage. The area would be zoned for "water dependent use" and businesses within that zone would include seafood processing plants, commercial and sport fishing vessels, marine service and supplies, cargo handling, recreational and charter boat operations.