Both sport and commercial fishermen say they are frustrated with the lack of communication with conservationists who are proposing marine reserves. But there is an even bigger issue, they said.

The fishing industry and the Ocean Policy Advisory Council have said for years that developing and implementing marine reserves should be done from the ground up, with locals designing the reserves. The fear was that well-funded out-of-state groups would override what local communities wanted.

Our Ocean, according to its Web site, is “a coalition of conservationists, scientists, ocean users, local leaders and business people from around the state working to preserve Oregon’s coastal legacy.”

Its member organizations include:

• Audubon Society of Portland

• Coast Range Association

• Environment Oregon

• Natural Resources Defense Council

• Oceana

• Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

• Pacific Marine Conservation Council

• Pew Environment Group

The Pew Environment Group is part of the Pew Charitable Trusts, which grants funding to other environmental groups.

For instance, Pew granted $9 million to Oceana — another Our Ocean coalition member — in March 2007. That was on top of $673,000 in December 2006, $4.5 million in March 2006, $4.5 million in 2005, $4.5 million in 2002 and $5.035 million in 2001.

Pew also awarded $185,000 to the Pacific Marine Conservation Council, another coalition member, in 2006, and $130,000 in 2001. The NRDC is another Pew grantee.

The huge funding capability of large international groups worries the fishing industry. Even though there are local representatives of Our Ocean, fishing industry leaders say it’s clear where the money and ideas are coming from.

“These aren’t originating in the local community,” said Nick Furman, Oregon Dungeness Crab commission executive director. “It’s the environmental community. These don’t appear to be coming out of what we would define as ‘community.’”

Gus Gates, Our Ocean’s representative on the South Coast, said all the member groups have offices in Oregon. Local supporters include retired scientists, conservatinists, recreational and commercial fishermen, and elected local officials, he said.

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On the Web: Our Ocean: http://www.ouroregonocean.org

Pew: http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_category.aspx?id=110