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Press Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOAA03-070
June 17, 2003
Rachel Saunders
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
(831) 647-4237
PROPOSED ACTION PLANS TO ADVISORY COUNCIL
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary has released a set of proposed actions for a revised Sanctuary Management Plan that addresses a range of critical ocean issues. Most of the proposed action plans were developed by public working groups established by the Sanctuary’s Advisory Council and composed of a broad spectrum of affected stakeholders, the public, sanctuary staff and other agencies. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“The working groups’ proposed action plans represent a critical phase in our management plan review process,” said Sanctuary Superintendent William J. Douros. “The proposed plans recommend specific strategies to reduce pollution of sanctuary waters, minimize disturbance to marine wildlife and restore and enhance biological communities and habitats. Taken together, the action plans will shape the focus and scope of work for sanctuary staff and our partners over the next five to ten years.”
The Monterey Bay Sanctuary is undergoing a Joint Management Plan Review process with the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries. A report detailing site-specific action plans for the two adjoining sanctuaries will be issued separately.
The working groups met this past winter and spring to develop strategies and actions to address issues identified as priorities by the Advisory Council and the public as part of the sanctuary’s mandated review of its management plan.
The Sanctuary Advisory Council will hear oral reports on the proposed action plans at its June 26 - 27 meeting at the Best Western Beach Resort in Seaside, Calif. The Advisory Council will provide advice to the Sanctuary Superintendent at its two-day meeting on July 31-August 1 in Santa Cruz, Calif.
Copies of the proposed action plans can be found on the Web at: http://sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/jointplan/. The document will also be available at area libraries. For more information on library locations or to request a free CD-ROM of the document, contact the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary at (831) 647-4201.
The agenda for the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Advisory Council’s meeting on Thursday, June 26, and Friday, June 27, can be found on the Sanctuary’s web site at:
http://montereybay.nos.noaa.gov/intro/advisory/sacagendas.html. The meeting is open to the public with a brief public comment opportunity Friday afternoon.
Members of the public who wish to provide comments on the proposed action plans have several options:
• Direct your comments to a Sanctuary Advisory Council member.
• Send a comment letter for the Sanctuary Advisory Council to consider at its special July 30, 2003 evening public comment workshop in Santa Cruz.
Letters should be addressed to Stephanie Harlan, Sanctuary Advisory Council Chair, 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA, 93940.
• Attend the Advisory Council’s July 30th evening public comment workshop in Santa Cruz at the UCSC Inn and Conference Center at 611 Ocean street.
NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) seeks to increase the public awareness of America’s maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs.
NOAA National Ocean Service manages the NMSP and is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. The National Ocean Service balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats and mitigating coastal hazards.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through research to better understand weather and climate-related events and to manage wisely the nation’s coastal and marine resources.
On the Internet:
NOAA - http://www.noaa.gov
NOAA National Ocean Service - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: http://montereybay.noaa.gov.
