Port Orford Field Station
The Port Orford Field Station is a research and education field station supported by Hatfield Marine Science Center. It 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 bio-geographic 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 eco-region 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.
Our Mission
The Port Orford Field Station serves as a hub supporting student learning, scientific research, community priorities, and economic opportunities on Oregon's South Coast. Learn more about our work below:
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Student Learning: the Field Station supports students completing summer internships in Port Orford each year across a variety of programs and research labs. Learn more about our summer internships on our Students page. The Field Station also collaborates with local K-12 schools and nearby colleges and universities to host educational field trips to Port Orford. Please reach out to Field Station via email if you would like to organize a field trip with us!
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Scientific Research: the Field Station provides facilities to support a variety of ocean-based research conducted here in Port Orford. We also have the only scuba tank fill station on Oregon's South Coast, allowing for extensive Scientific Diving operations to occur here in our diverse waters. Learn more about supported research on our Research page.
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Community Priorities: the Field Station is proud to partner with the City of Port Orford, Port of Port Orford, and other local entities to serve the unique needs of our rural, coastal communities. Please stop by the Field Station Classroom or reach out via email to connect with us.
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Economic Opportunities: the Field Station works closely with our local fishers, the Port of Port Orford, and Port Orford Sustainable Seafood to support our local, sustainable fisheries. Port Orford Sustainable Seafood currently operates their processing facility out of our Science & Education building where they buy fresh seafood from our local fishing fleet and blast-freeze it maintain quality. Learn more about their operations on their webpage.