NEWPORT — Lindsay Aylesworth, a long-time ocean researcher, has been named to lead the state’s Marine Reserves program.
Aylesworth, who had been serving as interim program leader since June, takes over for Cristen Don, who left the program earlier this year.
Oregon has five designated marine reserves, which fall under the purview of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. A marine reserve is considered an “underwater wilderness area” within which the removal of all marine life is prohibited.
The state’s five marine reserves, all created in 2012, are at Cape Perpetua, Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, Otter Rock and Redfish Rocks near Port Orford.
Prior to being named marine reserves ecological project leader five years ago, Aylesworth worked for 13 years on a variety of marine issues, including international policy and trade of marine species, by-catch in Pacific Island fisheries and coral reef ecology.
