Photo: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Up the Yaquina River from Newport, the Port of Toledo runs a boatyard that matters to fishing fleets far beyond Lincoln County. It is one of the few yards on the Oregon coast able to haul out and work on large commercial boats.
Why a yard matters
Fishing boats need regular haul-outs for hull work, painting, engine repairs and inspections. Without a nearby yard, owners have to run their boats to Washington or farther, losing time and money.
Jobs on the river
The yard supports welders, mechanics, electricians and other trades, and it lets private marine businesses work alongside the port. Those are skilled jobs in a county where many positions are seasonal.
A public investment
The port bought and upgraded the yard with help from state and federal funds, including a large travel lift for heavy boats. The bet was that keeping repair work local would support the whole Yaquina Bay fishing economy.
Rosalind Teague covers ocean science, coastal hazards and the people who shaped the central coast.
