NORTH BEND (AP) — Mark Sheldon didn’t suggest an offshore site that could be designated as a marine reserve.

But the Coos Bay resident did offer an opinion before storming out of a meeting Thursday at the North Bend Public Library. Sheldon said the stated purpose of the reserves — scientific research and the bolstering of fish stocks — is a sham, and told Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife representatives at the hearing that their agenda could be boiled down to greed and self-preservation.

“Maybe this is to redirect, and build a bigger bureaucracy,” he said. “Less hunters, less fishermen, you’ve got to justify your job. You need something to manage, preferably something no one can touch or see.”

Thursday’s meeting was the fourth of five conducted up and down the coast by state officials. It’s the public’s first opportunity to nominate sites, which can happen through Sept. 30. The last meeting will be held tonight in Gold Beach, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Gold Beach Resort Conference Center, 29232 Ellensburg on U.S. Highway 101.

But more than anger, the meeting was intended to be informational. Attendees received packets of information on how to nominate reserves, outlining what to include with each proposal and a description of the proposal evaluation criteria.

Setting up a marine reserve within the state’s three-mile limit would close it to high-impact activities such oil drilling and mining, as well as fishing.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski had set up a tight timeline to designate up to nine reserves this spring, but many Oregon coastal communities objected to the fishing restrictions.

Despite the delay, Kulongoski hasn’t indicated any change of heart about the validity of the concept. The moderators at the North Bend forum took great pains to let the attendees know their best course of action is to help shape the inevitable process, not try to stop it.

It wasn’t a message that went over well.

“I’m pretty confident no one in this room is going to come forward with a proposal (for a site),” said Steve Bodnar, executive director of the Coos Bay Trawlers Association.

Salmon troller Paul Merz did offer one, sort of: “It’s going to be about 60 miles inland.”

Proposal packets and additional information will be available on the Oregon marine reserves Web site, www.oregonmarinereserves.net, and from ODFW and Oregon Sea Grant.

For more information, those interested can contact Jeff Feldner, Oregon Sea Grant Extension, at (541) 574-6537 ext. 33, or Cristen Don, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, at (541) 867-4741.

— Staff Writer Susan Chambers contributed to this report