A Corvallis public forum on Marine Sanctuaries: Protecting our Marine Environment for Future Generations, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2945 N.W. Circle Blvd., Corvallis.

Professor Mark Hixon, chairman of the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee, Prof. Jim Good, vice chairman of Oregon's Ocean Policy Advisory Council and two representatives from Oregon's coastal communities - one pro and one con - will speak at the meeting.

Oregon has begun a public process for establishing marine sanctuaries (also called reserves) along the coast. The overall purpose of marine sanctuaries is to help protect, sustain or restore the near shore marine ecosystem, its habitat and species for present and future generations.

Although marine sanctuaries have been designated in other areas of the United States and the world, including California and Washington, none has yet been designated in Oregon.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski has asked the OPAC to provide recommendations for sites to be included in a system of marine reserves.

The meeting will inform the Corvallis community about this critical issue, the sites that have been proposed for consideration and how they can participate and help.

This event is sponsored by Environmental Action Council, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis and Our Oceans Coalition

For more information see www.oregonmarinereserves.net.