NOAA 2004-R477
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Sherman
9/15/04

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants to fill the Chumash Community seat on the sanctuary advisory council. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The sanctuary will select one primary and one alternate member for Chumash Community seat. Members and alternates serve two-year voluntary terms. The advisory council meets bi-monthly in daytime public sessions located throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Applicants are chosen based upon their expertise and experience in the field for which they are applying. Considerations include availability and commitment to active participation, community and professional affiliations, knowledge and views regarding the conservation and management of marine resources, and length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary.

Sanctuary advisory council member application packages are available at the sanctuary Web site: http://www.cinms.nos.noaa.gov/sac/sacnews.html or can be obtained by calling (805) 884-1464. Completed applications must be submitted to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, 113 Harbor Way, Suite 150, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 or by fax at (805) 568-1582 by close of business September 30.

The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in December 1998 to assure continued public participation in the management of the sanctuary. Serving in a volunteer capacity, the advisory council’s 20 voting members represent a variety of local user groups; general public; ten local, state and federal government jurisdictions. Since its establishment, the advisory council has played a vital role in advising the sanctuary and NOAA on critical issues and is currently focused on the development of a new five-year management plan, the consideration of establishing marine protected areas within the sanctuary and various water quality concerns.

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary encompasses the four northern Channel Islands (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and Anacapa) and Santa Barbara Island off the coast of southern California. With marine boundaries extending from the mean high tide of the islands’ shores to six nautical miles offshore, the sanctuary spans approximately 1,252 square nautical miles. The sanctuary supports a rich and diverse range of marine life and habitats, unique and productive oceanographic processes and ecosystems, and culturally significant resources such as hundreds of shipwrecks and submerged Chumash cultural artifacts. This diversity, along with the busy Santa Barbara Channel, brings significant human use and value to sanctuary waters, including commercial fisheries, recreational fishing opportunities, marine wildlife viewing, boating and other recreational activities, maritime shipping, nearby offshore oil and gas development, research and monitoring activities, and numerous educational activities. Designated in 1980, the sanctuary is the nation's fourth largest.

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

NOAA’s National Ocean Service manages the sanctuary program and is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. NOS 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 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 our nation’s coastal and marine resource.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

National Ocean Service: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov

National Marine Sanctuary Program: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary: http://channelislands.noaa.gov

Sanctuary Advisory Council application: http://www.channelislands.noaa.gov/sac/news.html