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The Monterey
Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council was established by Federal
law to assure continued public participation in the management of the
Sanctuary. Since its establishment in March 1994, the Advisory Council has played
a vital role in the decisions affecting the Sanctuary along the central
California Coast. The Advisory Council's twenty voting members represent a variety
of local user groups, as well as the general public, plus seven local and
state governmental jurisdictions. In addition, the respective
managers for the four California National Marine Sanctuaries (Channel
Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary,
Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, and the Monterey Bay
National Marine Sanctuary), the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research
Reserve and the United States Coast Guard sit as non-voting members. Members are appointed competitively
by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and serve three-year
terms. The Advisory Council meets bi-monthly in open sessions located throughout
the almost 300-mile boundary of the Sanctuary.
The Advisory Council is supported by four working groups: the Research Activity Panel (RAP) chaired by Chris Harrold, the Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP) chaired by Shauna Potocky, the Conservation Working Group (CWG) co-chaired by Kaitilin Gaffney and Steve Shimek, and the Business and Tourism Activity Panel (BTAP) co-chaired by Michael Bekker and Cynthia Walter, each respectively dealing with matters concerning research, education, resource protection and human use. The working groups are composed of experts from the appropriate fields of interest and most meet monthly or bimonthly, serving as invaluable advisors to the Advisory Council and the Sanctuary Superintendent. Dedicated Advisory Council members have laid a strong foundation for the Sanctuary's structure, policies, and procedures. Sanctuary goals to promote research, education and resource protection are a major focus for the Advisory Council, and members work diligently to promote public stewardship. The Advisory Council has proven to be a powerful voice for the general public, responding to citizen concerns, ideas and needs. The Advisory Council provides a public forum for its constituents, working to enhance communications and provide a conduit for bringing the concerns of user groups and stakeholders to the attention of Sanctuary Superintendents and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Advisory Council maintains a firm commitment to the goals and objectives of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Advisory Council appreciates the efforts of volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, and citizens, without whose support the mission of the Sanctuary would be difficult to realize. To learn more about Advisory Council, follow these links:
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