CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
ANNOUNCES NEW ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has appointed four representatives to serve on the sanctuary’s advisory council. Formed in 1998, the council provides a forum for consultation and deliberation with the community, assures continued public input to management decision-making, and helps expand public awareness about the sanctuary and its resources. The advisory council’s 21 voting members and 21 alternates represent a variety of local user groups and the general public, as well as ten local, state, and federal government jurisdictions.

“The council’s input has significantly shaped the sanctuary’s management activities and plans for the future,” said sanctuary manager Chris Mobley. “We are encouraged by the continuing community support and active involvement of our advisory council members.”

“The new sanctuary advisory council members introduce a wealth of ocean experience and a diversity of perspectives on marine resource management,” said Dianne Meester, advisory council chairperson. “The advisory council is very fortunate to be able to work with these dedicated individuals, and I expect they will serve the community’s interests well.”

The following individuals were recently named to fill open primary and/or alternate seats for tourism, recreational fishing, and the Chumash community:

• Recreational fishing primary member: Capt. David Bacon, Santa Barbara, Calif. An experienced fisherman, Capt. Bacon owns and operates a charter boat business, Wave Walker Charters, and is also an outdoors writer.
• Recreational fishing alternate member: Merit McCrea, Santa Barbara, Calif. McCrea has over 30 years of experience boating and fishing in the Channel Islands area, has owned and operated a local sportfishing charter boat business, and currently studies rockfish communities at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
• Tourism alternate: Andrea Moe, Santa Barbara, Calif. Moe has lived in Santa Barbara for 22 years and is employed by Island Packers, a concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park. Island Packers annually takes over 60,000 visitors through sanctuary waters, interpreting the wildlife and natural resources encountered en-route.
• Chumash Community alternate member: Reginald Pagaling, Santa Ynez, Calif. Pagaling is a member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, a member of many Chumash community councils, and an activist for Native American causes. He is a traditional paddler experienced with tomols, seagoing plank canoes.

The newly appointed and reappointed members will be present at bi-monthly advisory council meetings scheduled for May 15, July 21, Sept. 22 and Nov. 17, 2006. The May 15 meeting will be held at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara. All advisory council meetings are open to the public. More information is at: http://channelislands.noaa.gov/sac/main.html.

The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1980 to protect marine resources surrounding San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara Islands. The sanctuary spans 1,252 square nautical miles extending from island shorelines to six miles offshore, encompassing a rich diversity of marine life and habitats, as well as rich historic and cultural resources.

The NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program seeks to increase the public awareness of America’s marine resources and 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 together encompass more than 150,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources

NOAA’s National Ocean Service, which manages the National Marine Sanctuary Program, is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. It 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, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, 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 the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, over 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.

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