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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:9.6pt"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For Immediate Release                                                                         Date: August 18, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NOAA Grant Helps Remove Sunken F/V Western from Coos Bay<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="448" height="264" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D1F95E.8E118550" align="right" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The
 Oregon State Marine Board was recently awarded a $55,000 NOAA Marine Debris Removal grant to assist with the removal of the
<i>F/V Western</i> from Coos Bay.  The <i>Western</i> is a 69.9 foot long, 78 gross ton, wood-hulled fishing vessel that was built in 1934.  In January 2015, after breaking free from her mooring from the dock and from anchor several times, the
<i>Western</i> ultimately sank near a row of pilings near the Empire Boat Ramp, in water deep enough for complete submersion.  The vessel was deemed a priority to remove by several agencies and community groups because its large, near a busy navigation channel,
 and sunk in a sensitive fish and invertebrate habitat.  However, adequate funding was not available for the approximately $95,000 cost of removal and disposal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project, titled, “A partnership for the removal and prevention of abandoned and derelict fishing vessels along the Oregon Coast”, includes
 $17,500 matching cash from the Marine Board and $22,500 from the Department of State Lands as well as in-kind services from Oregon SeaGrant, South Slough NERR, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Environmental Quality, and staff from the
 coastal public ports and marinas. The Marine Board will contract with a salvage company for removal of the
<i>F/V Western</i> from the water and dispose of the vessel through approved methods on land.  The work will begin in October, 2016. 
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">  The grant also stipulates that in addition to removal of the
<i>Western</i>,  the Marine Board initiate and lead an Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Task Force with participation from Oregon coastal ports, law enforcement, commercial vessel owners, and other stakeholders to strategize and implement actions that will help
 prevent future abandoned and derelict vessels along the coast.  A majority of coastal ports struggle with commercial fishing vessels that are no longer in use and have not been maintained for seaworthiness, left abandoned or in derelict condition.  A goal
 of this task force will be developing an inventory of abandoned and derelict commercial vessels along the Oregon coast and develop plans and prioritize actions for future removal efforts.  <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The NOAA Marine Debris Program’s “Community-based Marine Debris Removal” federal funding program provides funding to support locally-driven,
 marine debris assessment and removal projects that benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and NOAA trust resources.  Projects awarded through this grant competition implement on-the-ground marine debris removal activities, with priority for those targeting medium-
 to large-scale debris, including derelict fishing gear and abandoned and derelict vessels.           
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ashley A. Massey<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Legislative Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Public Information Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Oregon State Marine Board<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">503-378-2623<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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