National Marine Sanctuary News

Nicole Capps, (831) 647-4206
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Rachel Saunders, (831) 647-4237
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants to fill eight Sanctuary Advisory Council seats representing agriculture, business/industry, conservation, fishing, recreation, research, and two community at-large seats. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The sanctuary will select a primary member and an alternate for each seat. Alternates attend meetings when members are not available and assume the seat if a member resigns. Members and alternates will serve three-year terms. Current holders of seats may re-apply. The Advisory Council meets bi-monthly in daytime public sessions located throughout the 276-mile boundary of the sanctuary.

Applicants are chosen based upon their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying. Considerations include community and professional affiliations, philosophy regarding the conservation and management of marine resources, and the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary.

Sanctuary Advisory Council member application packages are available at the sanctuary Web site, http://montereybay.noaa.gov or can be obtained by calling (831) 647-4206. Completed applications must be submitted to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940 by close of business December 5, 2003.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in March 1994 to assure continued public participation in the management of the Sanctuary. Serving in a volunteer capacity, the Advisory Council’s 20 voting members represent a variety of local user groups, as well as the general public, plus seven local, state and federal government jurisdictions. Since its establishment, the Advisory Council has played a vital role in advising the Sanctuary and NOAA on critical issues and is currently focused on the sanctuary’s development of a new 5-year management plan.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary stretches along 276 miles of central California coast and encompasses more than 5,300 square miles of ocean area. Renowned for its scenic beauty and remarkable productivity, the sanctuary supports one of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems, including 33 species of marine mammals, 94 species of seabirds, 345 species of fishes and thousands of marine invertebrates and plants.

NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) seeks to increase public
awareness of America’s maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, the sanctuary program manages 13 national marine sanctuaries and one coral reef ecosystem reserve that encompass more than 131,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources.

NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) manages the NMSP and is dedicated to
exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. The NOS 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 the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resource.

On the Internet:
NOAA - http://www.noaa.gov
National Ocean Service - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov
National Marine Sanctuary Program - http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – http://montereybay.noaa.gov