Advisory Councils

Bringing together diverse community interests to strengthen the network of national marine sanctuaries

National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Councils

Site-focused, community-based councils advising National Marine Sanctuary System leadership

National marine sanctuary advisory councils are community-based advisory groups established to provide advice and recommendations to the superintendents of the 14 sites on issues including management, science, service, and stewardship. The more than 440 members, including alternates, represent a broad cross-section of the communities that lie adjacent to national marine sanctuaries, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument), and represent such interests as conservation, education, research, fishing, whale watching, diving and other recreational activities, boating and shipping, tourism, harbors and ports, maritime business, agriculture, and maritime heritage; and jurisdictional partners from local, regional, state, tribal, territorial and federal agencies.

National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Councils