Cape Falcon is part of the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve and the adjacent marine protected areas, about 23 miles (37 km) north-northwest of Tillamook and 9 miles (14.5 km) south of Cannon Beach, Oregon. The marine reserve was designated in 2016 with the highest degree of protection and is the second largest of five marine reserves in the Oregon coastal network.
The marine reserve prohibits ocean development and the removal of any marine life from just north of Manzanita to the north end of Falcon Cove. This is an area of 12.4 square miles (3200 ha) encompassing all of the adjacent ocean to Short Sands beach and extending westward offshore. No removal of any marine resources is allowed. This includes no harvest of any species (i.e. no fishing, or gathering of kelp or mussels). However, safe passage and anchoring of boats are allowed as long as fishing gear is not deployed.
Adjacent to the marine reserve are two marine protected areas (MPA) totaling 7.6 square miles (1970 ha), one shoreside and to the north, and another just offshore of the western-most boundary of the marine reserve. These areas allow for some limited fishing activities but still prohibit ocean development such as offshore oil drilling, pipelines, or other energy development interests. In the Cape Falcon MPA (Falcon Cove sandy beach) only fishing from the beach is allowed. In the West MPA, only crabbing, and salmon fishing by trolling are allowed. Learn more about Cape Falcon and the other Oregon Marine Reserves here and here. Explore more of Cape Falcon here:
