Port Orford Field Station
OSU research and education field station, supported by OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center.
Port Orford Field Station
The Port Orford Field Station is located on the wind-swept southern coast of Oregon, just south of Cape Blanco, the westernmost point of Oregon. Cape Blanco also forms a biogeographic boundary that separates the Californian from the Oregonian ocean bioregions of the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. This means that Port Orford is located in an ecoregion more similar to that of Northern California than that of coastal Oregon north of Cape Blanco, providing rich opportunities to explore, study, and research the unique attributes of this region. It has been officially operated by Oregon State University since 2016.
Research supported by the Port Orford Field Station
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Research and long-term monitoring at the nearby Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve- ODFW monitors our marine reserve through SCUBA surveys, Hook and Line and Longlining surveys, ROV (remotely operated vehicles) habitat and benthic surveys, and oceanographic monitoring. The Field Station supports research conducted by OSU and partners to extend our understanding of the marine reserve by tracking fish movement patterns, monitoring juvenile fish populations, and assessing kelp forest ecosystem health.
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Rocky intertidal ecology- long-term monitoring and studies of our rocky intertidal ecosystems at the Cape Blanco Marine Research Area and Rocky Point is conducted by the PISCO research group supported by OSU's Menge Lubchenco Lab.
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Gray whale foraging ecology- since 2015, the GEMM Lab at the Marine Mammal Institute has monitored grey whales and their prey, zooplankton, to better understand this predator-prey relationship.
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River Otter predation on Sea birds - OSU Graduate student Luke Stuntz is studying the impacts of mesocarnivores, including river otters, on nesting seabird populations, notably the Leach's storm petrel.
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Kelp to Whales - supported by Oregon Sea Grant, this project examined the connections between bull kelp and whales and is now published! Learn more here
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ORKA - The station supports the Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA), a diverse group promoting the protection and restoration of healthy kelp forests in Oregon. ORKA recently published a Status Report reviewing the current state of Oregon's kelp forests (spoiler: we've lost 2/3 of them) and will be launching their restoration initiative in 2025 where work will be completed at 6 sites in Oregon, including Port Orford's Nellies Cove.
Internships supported at the Port Orford Field Station
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Gray whale foraging behavior (with GEMM lab) - including two High School student internships
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Hatfield Marine Science Center's REU program
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Marine Reserve Interpretation & Science Communication Internship supported by OSU's Marine and Coastal Opportunites
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Find more internship opportunities here!
Housed at the field station is Port Orford Sustainable Seafood, a community-supported fishery business that delivers wild, line-caught seafood direct from Port Orford to fish-loving communities throughout Western Oregon. Check out their processing facility and purchase some Port Orford seafood or stop by their lunch pop-up stand to enjoy a fresh seafood meal.
The field station provides air fills for SCUBA divers on the South Coast. We support scientific divers conducting research in our nearshore waters, sport divers exploring the diverse rocky reefs of the South Coast, and commericial divers working at local marinas. Since opening, we have provided hundreds of tank fills to support South Coast diving.
The field station provides lodging for visiting researchers, students, educators, and other partners completing work on the South Coast. We offer up to 10 beds at our cozy lodge complete with a kitchen and laundry facilities. Please fill out a facilities request form to inquire about making a reservation, note: we tend to be booked from July-August for internships.
Port Orford Field Station Address
Physical Location:
444 Jackson St. 1 block seaward of Highway 101
Mailing Address:
PO Box 143
Port Orford, OR 97465