The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, managed by the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is seeking two volunteer advisors to serve as conservation representative alternate and education representative alternate on the Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) for three-year terms.

The volunteer representatives provide counsel and recommendations to the sanctuary manager on issues of marine resource protection, education and research. The advisory council plays an important role in advising the sanctuary on critical issues, such as the establishment of marine reserves and the development of a new sanctuary management plan.

Applicants are chosen based upon their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying. Considerations include community and professional affiliations, philosophy regarding the conservation and management of marine resources, and the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary. Alternates only have voting privileges when the primary representative cannot attend a meeting.

The SAC member application packages are available at the sanctuary Web site, or can be obtained at by calling (805) 884-1469. Completed applications must be submitted to the SAC Coordinator, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, by close of business May 19, 2003.

The SAC was established in 1998, and consists of 20 voting members and 21 alternates who represent a variety of local user groups, the general public, and 10 local, state and federal governmental jurisdictions. The group typically meets every other month in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Council members are appointed for three-year terms.

Managed by NOAA National Ocean Service (NOAA Oceans and Coasts), Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is located approximately five miles off the coast of Oxnard, Calif., and 17 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara. The sanctuary encompasses approximately 1,252 square nautical miles of ocean and nearshore-habitat surrounding San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands.

This protected marine area provides refuge for 28 species of marine mammals and over 60 species of seabirds. The sanctuary contains a variety of habitats including sandy beaches, rocky reefs, kelp forests, seagrass meadows, open ocean, and deep hard and soft bottom benthic communities that are home to an incredibly diverse array of plant and animal species. The sanctuary has an abundance of historical and cultural resources, including over 200 documented shipwrecks and numerous Chumash Native American sites and artifacts. Designated in September 1980, the sanctuary is the nation’s fourth largest marine sanctuary.

The NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) seeks to increase 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 NMSP is now conducting a sanctuary designation process to incorporate the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve into the national sanctuary system.

NOAA National Ocean Service is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. NOAA Oceans and Coasts balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats, and mitigating coastal hazards.

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through research to better understand weather and climate-related events and to manage wisely the nation's coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

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

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

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Applications: http://channelislands.nos.noaa.gov/sac/main.html

National Marine Sanctuary Program: http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/natprogram/natprogram.html