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FLORENCE, Ore. - Registration is still available for the 6th annual Heceta Head Conference, with a theme of "Oregon's Ocean: Working Waterfronts," on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 28-29, at the Florence Events Center.

The conference begins Thursday at 2 p.m. with a tour of the Siuslaw River estuary and Florence's working waterfront, including a river boat trip for the first 36 reservations. After the tour there will be a presentation by Oregon State University anthropologist Court Smith, on the topic "Salmon Peoples of the Northwest."

Friday events will include sessions on Oregon's working waterfronts, estuary conservation and development, commercial fishing infrastructure needs, port planning and smart growth for coastal communities, a keynote address, and panels about the relocation to Newport of the Pacific research fleet of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Speakers from Bandon, Astoria, Coos Bay and Florence will also discuss partnerships for waterfront development.

More information on registration and fees can be obtained online, at http://www.HecetaHeadConference.org. Registration will also be accepted at the door.

This year's conference is organized by Oregon Sea Grant in collaboration with Heceta Head Coastal Conference.