Foster conservation through scientific research, education, and stewardship to raise support and awareness of the Land to Sea Connection throughout the millennia of the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve and the surrounding natural areas.
Why is it important?
On the spectacular Oregon Coast between Florence and Yachats lies the Cape Perpetua area, a biodiverse recreation mecca home to lush coastal rainforests and deep cultural history. But past the coastline also lies the largest Oregon marine reserve. The Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve is dedicated to the research and conservation of the ocean ecosystem, where the take of wildlife and human development is restricted. The Cape Perpetua area also contains two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and a seabird protection area.
Within the reserve, creatures large and small live in various habitats, from sand and gravel, to some of the most biologically diverse rocky intertidal habitats in the Pacific Northwest. These creatures live in a unique and fragile ecosystem, constantly shaped by the ever-changing weather and tides. Because of its dynamic environment, the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve is home to a plethora of wildlife such as whales, sea lions, seals, pelicans, cormorants, rockfish, and intertidal invertebrates that fuel a complex food web between the land and sea. Therefore, the urgent need for the protection of this fragile ecosystem is of utmost importance for the longevity of the Oregon Coast and its natural inhabitants.