Cape Perpetua Area & Collaborative
Introduction to the Marine Reserve
Marine Reserve Area
Marine Protected Areas
Seabird Protected Area
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 ocean ecosystem, where take of wildlife and human development is restricted. Cape Perpetua area also contains two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and a seabird protection area. Unlike the reserve, these protected areas allow limited take in their boundaries.
Within the reserve, creatures large and small live in various habitats from sand, gravel, to some of the most biologically diverse rocky intertidal habitats anywhere on the Pacific Northwest. These creatures live in a unique ecosystem shaped by the ever-changing weather and tides. Some days, strong winds will pull cold, oxygen-rich water and plankton up to the surface in a process called upwelling, while on other, more stagnant days, the water loses its oxygen and becomes hypoxic.
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.

The Cape Perpetua area, on the central coastal of Oregon, includes:
- Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve (Oregon’s largest) and Protected Areas
- numerous state parks
- Audubon’s Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary
- Siuslaw National Forest
- Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
- Rock Creek and Cummins Creek Wilderness Areas
- a Globally Significant Important Bird Area for the Marbled Murrelet, recently uplisted in endangered on the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
- the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
- Oregon’s Ocean Shore State Recreation Area
- natural resources that provide habitats for migratory and resident seabirds, marine mammals, native fish and wildlife
- cultural resources
- places for people to recreate
Who are we and what do we do?
In 2017, conservationists, NGOs, government agencies, and a local tribe came together to form The Cape Perpetua Collaborative, a partnership dedicated to fostering conservation through scientific research and educational stewardship within the local community.
Working together, the Collaborative aims to accelerate the pace at which Oregonians are made aware of and support in and around the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve through our events, citizen scientist initiatives, and community education.
Founding Partners
In 2017, team was composed of representatives from recreation management and conservation organizations and was working to include other local NGOs and a local tribe.
3 principles guide our management and mission:
Community Outreach
Building positive public relations through management and monitoring outreach.
Partnership Engagement
Using active communication and teamwork to support one another.
Leveraging Resources
Streamline efforts to advance mission by leveraging human and financial resources.
2022 Program Manager Short Report and Executive Highlights
This year we welcomed new staff and volunteers. We were able to accomplish many volunteer and community programs. Through these efforts we are able to connect with many folks regarding the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve and get people engaged. We have had many successful events and the high energy and enthusiasm from these events only helps us to continue building relationships and grow partnerships. We are honored to work alongside so many people and organizations working together towards a common goal and bringing more awareness to Oregon’s marine reserves.
Download Past Collaborative Visual Report Summaries