Newport is poised to become a hub for ocean observing activities in the Pacific Northwest. We are home to one of the premier marine science laboratories in the country, Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center and its multiple state and federal agency partners. The new home port of the West Coast fleet of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is in Newport. And the National Science Foundation (NSF) has committed many millions of dollars to installing and operating a cutting-edge ocean observing system off the Pacific Northwest.
The Yaquina Bay Ocean Observing Initiative (YBOOI), a group of interested scientists, industry representatives, and government officials, is committed to pursuing economic development opportunities for Newport and Lincoln County related to ocean observing activities.
Operation and maintenance of the ocean observing system will require ship time and maintenance, warehouse facilities, and other goods and services we can and could provide in Lincoln County. YBOOI is supporting and working with the growing ocean observing industry cluster in Newport and central Lincoln County to position Newport to have a long-term competitive advantage for growing this industry.
As we work NOW with ocean observing scientists and community leaders, Newport will be the Pacific Northwest hub of ocean observing science and industry within ten years.
The Time is Now, the Place is Newport!
The greater Newport area is uniquely positioned to serve and work with the OOI and other ocean-related initiatives. Our assets include:
- Hatfield Marine Science Center and its multiple state and federal agency partners
- NOAA Marine Operations Center – Pacific
- Port of Newport International Terminal
- OOI leadership at OSU in Corvallis within an hour’s drive
- Easy access to the ocean
- Port of Toledo ship maintenance facilities
- Fishing fleet willing and able to help
- An extensive network of marine education resources
The long-term vision for ocean observing in Newport is based on the following elements:
- Newport will serve as the leading US coastal location for ocean observing activity north of Monterey, Calif.
- Ocean observing activities will create stable, high wage employment and stimulate central Lincoln County’s working waterfronts
- Information created through ocean observing will contribute to knowledge-based fisheries management and long-term access to fish and marine resources
- Newport will serve as a Pacific Northwest leader in advocating for increased ocean observing investment and activity that benefits all coastal communities.
Five themes will guide YBOOI as it pursues this opportunity:
- Complexity: Effectively targeting specific opportunities in a complex system
- Innovation: Positioning as a nimble early adopter of a community approach to ocean observing
- Utility: Emphasizing Newport’s natural fit for ocean observing activities
- Research Leadership: Building our reputation as the leading PNW coastal research community
- Effective Leverage: Enhancing relationships among local community users of OO information
YBOOI has already developed a strategic framework for establishing Newport as an ocean observing hub.
The report from our July 2011 strategy retreat is also available now: Retreat Report, December 2011. You may also download the Executive Summary.
