07/10/2026
A Month of Marine Reserves continues! What habitats and species exist in Oregon’s marine reserves?
We’re partnering with and to highlight these unique coastal ecosystems. Oregon’s marine reserves protect a diversity of ocean habitats, from the shoreline to the seafloor. Each ecosystem plays a unique role in supporting various marine species and contributes to the overall health of the coast.
In the intertidal zone, life is shaped by the rise and fall of the tides. Rocky tidepools shelter ochre sea stars, aggregating and giant green anemones, California mussels, hermit crabs, various snails, and diverse algae species, all adapted to survive exposure to sun, wind, and waves.
Below the surface, rocky reef habitats provide structure and sanctuary amidst the constant surge of the sea. Rockfish, lingcod, bull kelp, sea stars, wolf eels, giant pacific octopus, and more rely on these hard-bottom areas for food, shelter, and reproduction.
Kelp forests serve as "underwater rainforests" of our coastline, primarily composed of fast-growing bull kelp. This towering habitat serves as a vital nursery where juvenile rockfish and snails hide from predators, gray whales feast on mysid shrimp and sea urchins graze along the seafloor. Beyond supporting wildlife, these forests are true climate heroes; they are powerhouses of carbon sequestration that help de-acidify local waters and act as a natural buffer for our shorelines against heavy winter storms.
Sandy-bottom habitats may appear empty, but they are full of life beneath the surface. Clams, worms, flatfish, crabs, sea pens, and burrowing animals live within the sand, recycling nutrients and supporting the marine food web.
Together, these connected habitats show how marine reserves protect not just individual species, but entire ocean systems.
Follow along with and for marine reserve information!
