Oregon — Oregonians can now help fund shark research and ocean conservation every time they drive. Vouchers are on sale for Oregon’s newest specialty license plate, called “Vibrant Ocean,” which will directly support the Big Fish Lab at Oregon State University (OSU).
The colorful plate, featuring three shark species common to Oregon waters, will raise money for research into the role of sharks in coastal ecosystems, community outreach, and training for students and staff.
“Funding shark research is hard. Sharks are not delicious or cuddly, but they’re critically important,” said Taylor Chapple, OSU assistant professor and founder of the Big Fish Lab. “Our mission is to better understand the importance of sharks and to share their story broadly. This license plate will help us do that.”
Chapple hopes the new design will also shift public perception. “With every plate, we get closer to appreciating that sharks aren’t the mindless killers of Hollywood, but dynamic and important actors in our vibrant oceans,” he said.
The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles will begin producing the plates once 3,000 vouchers are sold. Each voucher costs $40, with roughly $35 going directly to support the Big Fish Lab’s work. Vouchers can be purchased through OSU’s Marine Research website.
Founded in 2019, the Big Fish Lab is Oregon’s first and only dedicated shark research program. Based at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, the lab studies shark behavior, migration, and ecological impacts along the state’s coastline.
“As apex predators, sharks keep Oregon’s coastal ecosystems and the economies dependent on them vibrant and productive,” Chapple said. “From the crab in your pot to the salmon on your grill, Oregon’s ocean abundance is largely thanks to our sharks.”
The Vibrant Ocean plate was designed by Natalie Donato, a third-year Honors College student from Folsom, California. Studying marine biology and ecology in OSU’s College of Science, Donato combines her scientific and artistic passions to communicate ocean research through visual storytelling.
Her design features a salmon shark in the center, flanked by two blue sharks and a common thresher shark, all depicted in a vivid, immersive underwater scene.
“I wanted to capture the feeling of being underwater — the calm, fluid world where sharks are inquisitive, not frightening,” Donato said. “Seeing the final design on the plate with its metallic sheen made it feel real. It’s amazing that my art supports research I care deeply about.”
The Vibrant Ocean plate joins several other Oregon State University specialty plates, including the gray whale plate benefiting OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute and the Pollinator Paradise plate supporting bee research. The new Beaver athletics plate is available statewide as of April 7, 2025.
For information on purchasing a Vibrant Ocean voucher, visit marineresearch.oregonstate.edu/vibrant-ocean
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