CHARLESTON — Business was slow at Betty Kay Charters. The office was empty. The Betty Kay was tied to the dock.

Owner Margery Whitmer was reading a book in the sun out front. But she didn’t take long to become passionately interested in something else. Just show her a chart of a proposed marine reserve area south of Cape Arago.

“What?!” she exclaimed. “That’s prime fishing ground for charter boats and rockfish fishermen. That’s the mainstay of our income.”

Whitmer’s reaction was similar to those of many local sport and commercial fishermen. Marine reserves, which would close ocean areas to fishing and other activity, have been controversial for several years. But only recently have specific areas been proposed, mostly by environmental groups.

One group in particular has raised fishing industry hackles up and down the coast. Our Ocean proposed a network of eight marine reserves. Fourth-generation fisherman Devin Hockema was aghast when he heard about one of those this week.

“I’ll be damned,” he said. “That’s horrible.”

Our Ocean proposes a 5.5-nautical-mile reserve, extending from Middle Cove at Cape Arago to Whisky Run, north of Bandon. That area is one favored by the Hockemas, a legendary family in Charleston-area fishing history.

Hockema crabs in a sandy area inside a rocky horseshoe-shaped area. So do his father, uncle and other Charleston fishermen. They’ve spent years learning where the shallows are, where the rocks are, and where a boat can find safe passage to the productive crab grounds.

If the area becomes a reserve, anchorages, vessel transit and beach access would be allowed — but no fishing or crabbing.

The problem, Hockema said, is that displacing the 10 or so fishermen who set their gear there would squeeze them into a smaller area nearby. In that case, it’s not just 10 fishermen who are affected — it’s closer to 20 or 30 who now have to compete for ever-smaller spaces.

Multiply that by eight or nine reserves, and Our Ocean’s network could affect up to one-third of the crab fleet. That doesn’t include other fishermen, such as salmon trollers, groundfish longliners, trawlers or others who likewise would be excluded. Some of the reserves would be surrounded by less-restrictive marine protected areas, where some fishing would be allowed.

Supporters say there is a strong case to be made for protecting chunks of Oregon’s territorial sea.  These underwater areas are treasures — even the sandy areas that change with every winter and summer storm.

And it’s only a portion of those areas, chosen to represent ecological niches, that environmental groups hope to preserve. Preserving those areas would benefit fishermen, too, they say.

“Our state has always been able to depend on our uniquely beautiful and productive ocean,” Susan Allen, a Pew Environment Group employee who leads Our Ocean, said in a press release. “... marine protected areas and reserves are a responsible tool we have for maintaining our rich ocean resources for future generations.”

Some scientific studies show fish populations increase inside a reserve, and some of those fish spill  into areas in which fishing is allowed.

Other areas would be protected so shelters for fish or rare and sensitive habitats would be left in pristine condition.

It would be a win-win for everyone, environmentalists said.

Our Ocean held a press conference in Portland on Wednesday and released its network idea, but fishermen say the process is flawed. There has been insufficient time for their input, they said, and environmental groups were supposed to meet with fishermen and other community leaders to establish community buy-in.

“I’m not pleased at all with the apparent lack of communication between the (environmental groups) and the fishermen,” said Frank Warrens, chairman of OPAC’s Marine Reserves Working Group.

Nick Furman, executive director of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, is frustrated with the process. Some of it stems from a workshop held in early September at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology boathouse in Charleston, in which rough drafts of proposed areas were presented.

Two sites — one off of Cape Perpetua and one at Mack Reef, between Brookings and Gold Beach, were discussed at the four-hour workshop.

Though several South Coast fishermen attended, Our Ocean didn’t mention any local sites until asked by Oregon State University’s Jeff Feldner. Gus Gates, an Our Ocean employee, said he had no detailed information. But he solicited comments on areas in which fishermen set their gear and made their livelihoods, and on which areas they thought would be good to protect.

Every square mile of sandy areas and rocky bottoms north and south of the entrance to Coos Bay was used by one or more fishermen in the room.

Hugh Link, the Crab Commission’s assistant administrator, commented, “Sounds like no place here would be good.” 

Gates said Our Ocean later talked with individual fishermen and other community members about the group’s specific local proposal.

“I think we’ve gotten some good strides with the community,” he said. “There were some constructive ideas in the workshop there.”

Furman scoffed.

“We’re not aware of any more discussions with the fishing community after that meeting two weeks ago,” he said. “If this is the definition of deep community involvement, it leaves something to be desired.”

All the reserve proposals must undergo a long review process with OPAC and state officials. Environmental groups hope to use that time building consensus among the fishing industry and communities at large.

Gates said a program of marine councils, similar to the state’s watershed councils that work to keep freshwater habitat healthy, is an attainable goal.

“But the first step is protecting some special places,” he said.

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

Oregon marine reserves: http://www.oregonmarinereserves.net/

Ocean Policy Advisory Council: http://www.lcd.state.or.us/LCD/OPAC/index.shtml