NOAA’S CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
SEEKS RECREATIONAL FISHING AND PUBLIC AT-LARGE APPLICANTS
FOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants to fill Sanctuary Advisory Council seats representing recreational fishing and the public at-large. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The sanctuary will select a primary member and an alternate for the recreational fishing seat, and an alternate member for the public at-large position. Members and alternates will serve two-year terms. Current holders of seats may re-apply. 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 relation to the seat for which they are applying. Considerations include community and professional affiliations, views regarding the conservation and management of marine resources, and the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary.

Sanctuary Advisory Council member application packages are available at the sanctuary Web site, http://channelislands.noaa.gov or can be obtained by calling (805) 966-7107. 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 Dec. 20, 2003.

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, as well as the general public, plus 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.

The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary spans 1,252 square nautical miles. The sanctuary supports a rich and diverse range of marine life and habitats, and culturally significant resources. This diversity, along with the busy Santa Barbara Channel, also brings significant human use and value to sanctuary waters, including commercial and recreational fisheries, marine wildlife viewing, boating, recreational activities, maritime shipping, nearby offshore oil and gas development, research and monitoring activities, and numerous educational activities. The sanctuary was designated in 1980.

NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) seeks to increase the 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.

NOAA’s National Ocean Service manages the NMSP and is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. The National Ocean Service 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 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 resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

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

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

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