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Press Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
NOAA 02-R429
September 9, 2002
CONTACT:
Matt Stout, NOAA
National Marine Sanctuary Program
(301) 713-3125 x173
Sarah Marquis, NOAA
West Coast Media Coordinator
(949) 675-8117
NEW MANAGER HIRED FOR NOAA's CHANNEL ISLANDS SANCTUARY
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today announced Christopher T. Mobley will become the manager of NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary on Nov. 1, 2002.
As manager of NOAA's Channel Islands Sanctuary, Mobley will oversee monitoring and preserving one of the nation's most significant coastal resources. NOAA's Channel Islands sanctuary, designated in September 1980, encompasses the waters surrounding San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands.
"We are pleased to have Chris join NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program in managing California's treasured resources", said Daniel J. Basta, director of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program. "Chris has the experience and leadership skills to make the Channel Islands Sanctuary a national model for protecting its distinctive resources and fragile ecosystems."
A great variety of plants, animals and fish thrive in the protected and managed sanctuary as a result of a combination of fertile warm and cool currents. Additionally, the sanctuary sponsors a range of programs designed to promote public awareness of marine issues.
"The Channel Islands have been special to me ever since my first research dives there 20 years ago. I look forward to working with the sanctuary staff, the Sanctuary Advisory Council, involved agencies, stakeholders, and community members. This is an incredible opportunity," Mobley said.
Most recently, Mobley has worked on policy, funding and administration of Pacific salmon recovery efforts as NOAA Fisheries' Pacific Salmon Coordinator for the last three years. Mobley has a strong background in coastal resource management, research, public outreach and interagency coordination.
During his career, Mobley has had extensive experience in building partnerships and collaborating with state and federal agencies, local government, tribes, businesses, non-profit organizations and user groups. He has participated in numerous research projects along the California coast, including kelp diving off of San Miguel Island, archeological diving near Santa Cruz Island, field cruises in the Gulf of the Farallones and rockfish dive surveys in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Mobley received a B.A. in Biology from Dartmouth College, an M.S. in Oceanography from the University of Washington and an MBA from Sonoma State University.
He began his NOAA career in 1987 as a commissioned officer in the NOAA Corps serving aboard the NOAA Ship Malcolm Baldrige as deck officer, working diver and shipboard computer manager. He then worked for 10 years in NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) field office in Santa Rosa, Calif., focusing on the conservation and restoration of marine and freshwater fish habitat.
Current Sanctuary Manager LCDR Matt Pickett is completing his 20-month assignment at the sanctuary through December 2002. A NOAA Corps officer and pilot, LCDR Pickett will be reporting to Silver Spring, MD in January 2003 where his aviation services are required to support other NOAA functions. He has been selected as the Chief, Remote Sensing Division-Flight Program and will be piloting citation jets on photogrammetry and remote sensing missions.
NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program (NOAA Sanctuaries) seeks to increase the public awareness of America's maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration, and educational programs. Today, 13 national marine sanctuaries encompass more than 18,000 square miles of America's ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources. In addition, the NOAA Sanctuaries is now conducting a sanctuary designation process to incorporate the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve into the national sanctuary system. For more information about NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, visit: http://www.cinms.nos.noaa.gov.
NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOAA Ocean Service) manages the National Marine Sanctuary Program and is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation's coasts and oceans. NOAA 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. To learn more about NOAA Ocean Service and NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program, please visit http://www.nos.noaa.gov.
