I am urging anyone who sees harvest violations occurring in
the no harvest zone, to call the Oregon State Police Wildlife
Tip Hotline at 800-452-7888. You will be asked to identify the
area you are calling about and that answer is “Roads End State
Park, Cascade Head marine reserve no harvest zone”. Then you
will be asked to describe the individuals. The OSP does not
recommend talking to individuals trying to harvest in reserves
due to potential for conflict.
A new year has begun and with it comes time to renew my desire
and I hope yours too, to work on conservation of our magnificent
Oregon coast and particularly the stretch of beach in Lincoln City
at Roads End State Park. Even more specifically, the Cascade
Head Marine Reserve section from Wecoma to the northern tip of
Roads End beach. Having the good fortune to call this home
alongside all the wild creatures here that also call it home is not
to be taken for granted.
This section is a no harvest zone of the reserve. There are
increasing occurrences of violations in this zone. What can
withstand the forces of the Pacific Ocean cannot always
withstand people armed with buckets, sharp hooks, nets and
traps to harvest shellfish and fish. I have repeatedly called the
Oregon State Police Wildlife tip hotline to report violators in the
no harvest zone. I have often talked to people in the act of
harvesting and tried educating them that this is a no harvest zone
with mixed results.
In October of 2020, I reached a point where I needed help to
protect this area and wrote a letter documenting recent
incidences of reserve violations and some ideas to prevent these
kind of violations in the future to various agencies. Last
December, I enlisted Representative David Gomberg to help me
interact with government agencies regarding protecting this
specific section of the Cascade Head Marine Reserve.
“Protection” is a word that’s meaning is becoming rather vague
depending on who is promoting protection of a person, place or
thing. According to dictionary.com “protection” is defined as “the
act of protecting or the state of being protected; preservation
from injury or harm”. While the definition does not include a legal
description we do have that form of protection in this area. It is a
rare protection for a marine zone on the Oregon Coast that
deserves respect and action to enforce it with consequences for
those who choose to ignore.
Enforcement may be are only way to educate the public about
the reserves at this time as local agencies do not have funds for
this work. I suggest you contact your local representatives and
government agencies if you are interested in more funds going to
education about our coast and ocean environments.
To see the map of this marine reserve area go to https://
For general information about Oregon State Marine Reserves go
Thank you for actively participating in protecting this beautiful
habitat.
-Victoria McOmie