1. Vibrant Ocean

Vibrant Ocean

A shark license plate is hitting Oregon soon! Your purchase will directly support shark research and the education of future shark scientists in Oregon.

Purchase your Pre-Sale Voucher

 

Vibrant Ocean

Did you know that Oregon is home to 15 different shark species? Featuring three such species, the salmon shark, thresher shark, and blue shark, the Vibrant Ocean license plate is a celebration of these critical ocean predators and the vibrant marine ecosystems they support along Oregon’s stunning coastlines.

Salmon sharks (Lamna ditropis) are one coastal resident of Oregon waters commonly observed in the summer months. They are relatively small (<10 feet long), and feed on hake, squid, and other species on Oregon’s continental shelf. Their name comes from the fact that they were historically observed feeding at river mouths on outmigrating salmon in Alaska!

Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) are one of the most widely distributed of all shark species, and are very frequently observed by water users in Oregon, especially in the summer. They can grow up to 13 feet in length, and feature striking blue colors on their dorsal (back) sides in contrast to their white undersides.

Common thresher sharks (Alopias vulpinus) are found in cooler (temperate) waters around the world, including Oregon! They can grow to 20 feet long, and are easily identifiable by their sickle-shaped tail. They use this tail to stun fish before preying on them.

About the artist

Natalie Donato is a third-year undergraduate student at Oregon State University studying marine biology and ecology, a lifelong dream of hers come true. Her passion for art has become intertwined with her academic journey, inspiring illustrations depicting a wide variety of marine animals for scientific presentations, publications, and art galleries. Working with the Big Fish Lab, she specializes in the sensory biology and ecology of sharks and continues to express her love of sharks through her artwork.

 

Check out more of Natalie’s work on her Instagram, @nataliedonato.art, and on the Big Fish Lab’s merchandise, available now!

Why are sharks important?

There are over 500 species of shark worldwide, 15 of which inhabit Oregon’s waters at least seasonally. Most sharks are top predators, keeping prey populations balanced by regulating species abundance, distribution, and diversity. This impact resonates throughout ecosystems and human communities alike, affecting the health of marine habitats and the economies they support.

Despite their importance and 450 million years of evolutionary history, sharks are some of the most threatened animals on our planet, due to decades of overfishing, habitat loss, climate change, and pollution. Using cutting-edge technologies, education, and action, the Big Fish Lab at Oregon State University is creating innovative ways to help these apex predators. But, we need your help! Your purchase of a “Vibrant Ocean” license plate will directly contribute to our efforts by supporting the conservation of these vulnerable marine species.

Did you know that the Big Fish Lab is an international leader in shark research?

  • Established in 2019, we are the first dedicated shark research program in Oregon.
  • Collectively, researchers in our program have produced 400 scientific publications, new insights into shark movements and behavior, and groundbreaking new technologies to remotely observe these animals and learn more about their reproduction – a topic about which we know very little but is critical to informing policy designed to protect sharks
  • Our research has garnered substantial media attention, with features on local and international news channels, as well as documentaries by the BBC, Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week”, and National Geographic
  • We work with collaborators across disciplines, from state and federal agencies to the fishing industry in Oregon, to ensure that our science has a meaningful impacts
  • We train students from all demographic backgrounds, with a dedicated and ongoing emphasis on increasing diversity in this field. Our goal is to build the next generation of shark- and ocean-focused ambassadors in coastal communities worldwide, equipped with deep knowledge of shark research.

Bringing shark science to Oregon

Sharks are historically misunderstood and maligned creatures, a negative stigma that hurts conservation efforts for these predators and undervalues their complexity and importance. As such, a key part of our mission is to ensure we are providing open access to the real science of sharks.

  • We host several outreach events per year throughout Oregon, including a “Summer of the Shark Series” and “Sharktoberfest”. These can be found on our outreach page and on social media.
  • We have a strong social media presence, updating our followers regularly with the latest science news and information on upcoming events (@big_fish_lab, @sulikowskilab)

Members of our group are available to (and frequently do) present our results to the communities in which we work, bring shark science into classrooms, and participate in webinars and science pubs. Please contact us via our outreach page if that is of interest!

Funds from the license plate will support:

  • Outreach and education: These funds will be partially allocated to travel for community engagement events, supplies (i.e. posters, flyers, crafts, etc.), and in some cases, venue support.  
  • Training: These funds will also partially support training opportunities for students and staff, increasing accessibility to our field by providing the financial means for future marine scientists to develop the skills required to advance in their research careers.
  • Research: Funds will directly support ongoing research efforts to understand the role sharks play in keeping Oregon’s coastal marine communities and economies vibrant.

FAQs

In addition to regular title, registration and plate fees, the OSU Vibrant Ocean plate has a $40 surcharge due when first ordered and at each registration renewal. Additionally, you will need to pay a one-time plate fee and replacement fee. Complete details can be found on the Oregon DMV website. 

Approximately $35 of the surcharge goes back to support the OSU Big Fish Lab.

Yes! Like other Oregon license plates, the OSU Vibrant Ocean plate may be customized for an additional DMV charge. Please inquire with the DMV about the application process.

We will also be holding an auction for low numbers once we have sold all 3,000 vouchers. These are the only plate numbers that we can pre-assign. We will notify all purchasers of auction details as we get closer. If you do not purchase a low number from the auction, you will be issued a number in the DMV’s local inventory when you go to redeem your voucher.

We will updated this website with current presale numbers and email you as soon as we hit our 3,000 mark. After the voucher pre-sale is complete, the Oregon DMV will begin production of the plates.  While we don’t know the specific date, the more you tell your friends, family and random strangers to get out there an buy their voucher, the faster you can get your plate on your car!

  • If you pre-registered, vouchers will be mailed to the address supplied once they become available. 
  • Once the plates have been issued (expected Winter 2025) and you’ve been notified by email by OSU, take your original paper voucher to any Oregon DMV location to redeem. You will need to complete the appropriate DMV form(s) and pay registration and other fees due (contact the DMV for details).
  • Your purchase of a voucher is a transaction between you and Oregon State University. If your voucher is lost, stolen or damaged, contact the Big Fish Lab for a replacement.
  • The sale of the voucher is a fundraising activity of Oregon State. The DMV does not and will not control the means or manner of the sale and distribution of vouchers.

Once the plates are issued (expected Winter 2025), you will be able to purchase them directly at any Oregon DMV branch, by mail or online.

Yes, you can maintain your current custom 6-character configuration on an OSU Vibrant Ocean plate, for an additional DMV charge. Applications for replacement custom plates are accepted at the DMV.

Souvenir plates are not available. OSU Vibrant Ocean plates are only available with passenger vehicles registered in the State of Oregon.

To give the OSU Vibrant Ocean plate voucher as a gift, sign as a purchaser and complete the bottom “Transfer of Voucher” section in the name of the person receiving the gift. Be sure that you also sign as transferor in this section.

If your voucher is lost, stolen or damaged, contact the Big Fish Lab for replacement.

No problem. Your vehicle registration and your OSU Vibrant Ocean plate are two different things. Here are two scenarios:

  • Scenario 1. Getting a plate AND renewing your registration. 
    When replacing another type of plate with an OSU Vibrant Ocean plate at renewal, you pay the registration fee for the vehicle type, the replacement transaction fee, submit a pre-paid voucher or the OSU Vibrant Ocean plate surcharge and the plate manufacturing fee.
  • Scenario 2. I already have a plate and registration. 
    When you replace another type of plate with an OSU Vibrant Ocean plate other than at renewal, you will pay the replacement transaction fee, submit a pre-paid voucher or the OSU Vibrant Ocean plate surcharge and the plate manufacturing fee.