Vouchers are now on sale for a new specialty Oregon license plate that researchers hope will inspire people to think differently about the sharks living just off the Oregon coast.
Sales of the “Vibrant Ocean” plate, which features three shark species commonly found in Oregon, will support the Big Fish Lab at Oregon State University. Funds will be used for research to better understand the role sharks play in Oregon’s coastal marine ecosystem; outreach and education efforts in the community; and training opportunities for students and staff.
“Funding shark research is hard. Sharks are not delicious or cuddly, but they’re critically important,” said Taylor Chapple, an assistant professor and founder of the Big Fish Lab. “Our mission in the Big Fish Lab is to better understand the importance of sharks and to share their story broadly. This license plate will help us do that…