Gray's Reef Sanctuary Advisory Council The Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in September 1999 to provide advice on the management and protection of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. The Advisory Council, through its members, serves as a liaison to the community regarding Sanctuary issues and represents community interests, concerns, and management needs to the Sanctuary. Minutes from past meetings: 2009 Jan 28, 2009 space space space space 2008 Jan 31, 2008 Apr 29, 2008 July 29, 2008 Oct 2, 2008 space 2007 Jan 10, 2007 April 13, 2007 June 20, 2007 Sept 26, 2007 space 2006 Jan 18, 2006 Apr 20, 2006 July 25, 2006 Oct 24, 2006 f 2005 Mar 24, 2005 June 21, 2005 Sept 28, 2005f f f 2004 Jan 28, 2004 Sept 1, 2004 Dec 16, 2004 f f 2003 Mar 11, 2003 Aug 26, 2003 f f f 2002 Mar 4, 2002 Sept 23, 2002 Dec 18, 2002 f f 2001 Jan 23, 2001  Mar 21, 2001 July 31, 2001 Oct 2001 Dec 18, 2001 2000 Mar 3, 2000  May 9, 2000 July 12, 2000 Nov 9, 2000 f 1999 Sept 9, 1999 Oct 21, 1999 f f f SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL ROLES The Sanctuary Advisory Council serves as a forum for consultation and deliberation for the community and as a source of consensus-based advice to the sanctuary superintendent. This is a community-based participatory process that assures continued public input to management decision-making, while at the same time expanding public awareness about the sanctuary and challenging marine resource management issues. Specifically, the Advisory Council's objectives are to provide the sanctuary superintendent with advice on: Protecting natural and cultural resources, and identifying and evaluating emergent or critical issues involving sanctuary use or resources; Identifying and realizing the Sanctuary's research objectives; Identifying and realizing educational opportunities to increase the public knowledge and stewardship of the sanctuary environment; Assisting to develop an informed constituency to increase awareness and understanding of the purpose and value of the sanctuary and of the National Marine Sanctuary Program. More information on how the Council conducts its business can be found in the Sanctuary Advisory Council Charter (revised January 2008). Most other National Marine Sanctuaries have established Advisory Councils. You can find information about other Sanctuary Advisory Councils at NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries web site. One of the Advisory Council's most important strengths comes from the diversity of its membership. The Advisory Council consists of fourteen members representing education, research, sport diving, sport fishing, commercial /charter fishing, conservation, law enforcement and selected government agencies. More information on the Advisory Council Members can be found on the Sanctuary Advisory Council Members list. The Advisory Council conducts itself in an open, transparent, and publicly accessible process. This allows for comprehensive and effective participation of all stakeholders. All meetings of the Advisory Council are advertised and open to the public, and each member links the sanctuary and the Advisory Council process to extensive networks of constituencies. The Advisory Council thus serves as the sanctuary's link to the broader community of stakeholders and as an entry point for community participation in sanctuary management. The Advisory Council process is helping to vest ownership and responsibility for shaping the future management and protection of the Sanctuary in the community most interested in and dependent upon sanctuary resources. In this way, a sense of community-based sanctuary stewardship is fostered. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Sanctuary Advisory Council Coordinator via e-mail at Becky.Shortland@noaa.gov or phone at (912) 598-2381. Return to the top