Marine reserves will be the topic at a meeting of the Ocean Policy Advisory Council's Marine Reserve Working Group to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology Boathouse Auditorium in Charleston.

The council adopted a goal for marine reserves in July to protect and sustain a network of ecologically unique places in Oregon's territorial sea. They would conserve marine habitats and biodiversity, provide a framework for scientific research and effectiveness monitoring and minimize possible adverse social and economic impacts on ocean users and ocean-dependent communities.

For more information, those interested can call Laurel Hillmann at the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department at (503) 986-0700; or e-mail laurel.hillmann@state.or.us.