SALEM - All that's preventing Oregon from setting up the state's first two fishing-free marine reserves off the coast is Gov. Ted Kulongoski's signature.

Talk to anyone involved in the process and all indications are these two reserves will sail into existence on a wave of support from the governor. Rep. Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach, was one who supported the bill in part because it requires scientific studies of the ocean instead of simply restricting fishing. If funding for the research goes away, so do the fishing prohibitions.

"If you are going to have these kind of places, you have to fund them," he said.

The measure to help restore dwindling fishing stocks won approval Wednesday in the Oregon Senate after supporters called it a fair compromise backed by environmentalists, fishermen and coastal groups.

Oregon is the only state on the West Coast without any marine reserves, which also are designed to boost ocean research.

"With this historic vote, Oregon is taking new action to preserve, monitor and research Oregon's vital ocean resources," said Susan Allen of the conservation group Our Ocean.

Under the bill, the first two reserves will be small, primarily for research. The measure contains funding to keep discussions going on the creation of four additional marine reserves.

Both the House and Senate voted overwhelmingly for the measures. It was very different from the bitter battles of 2002, when then-Gov. John Kitzhaber first proposed establishment of a network of marine conservation areas to offset damage from overfishing.

Oregon fishing groups and coastal communities largely resisted a broader system of reserves proposed earlier, but endorsed the two pilot reserves contained in House Bill 3013.

The measure creates one marine reserve, where no fishing or mining would be allowed, at Otter Rock off Depot Bay and another at Redfish Rocks off Port Orford.

Four areas still under discussion are at Cape Arago near Coos Bay, Cape Falcon near Manzanita, Cape Perpetua near Yachats, and Cascade Head near Lincoln City.

The bill taps $1 million from damages awarded over the New Carissa shipwreck at Coos Bay and oil soiling that resulted.

"Now that's something - an environmental benefit coming from the New Carissa grounding," said Sen. Betsy Johnson, a Scappoose Democrat and a leading backer of the bill.