THUNDER BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY AND UNDERWATER PRESERVE
SEEKS VOLUNTEER ADVISORS

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the State of Michigan, is seeking five volunteer advisors and five alternates to serve as recreation, business/economic development, fishing, higher education and citizen-at-large representatives on its sanctuary advisory council for three-year terms. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Council members provide advice and recommendations to the sanctuary manager and the Joint Management Committee – a state and federal body that oversees major policy, management and budget issues. Council members also serve as liaisons to the community regarding sanctuary issues.

The sanctuary advisory council is currently comprised of 15 seats including representatives appointed from four local units of government and the Underwater Preserve Committee.

Applications will be accepted for the open seats until June 11. Application packets for the advisory council are available at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve office in the Federal Building, 145 Water Street, Alpena, MI 49707 (M-F 8:00-5:00), or by contacting Jean Prevo at (989) 356-8805 ext. 13 or jean.prevo@noaa.gov.

Applications will be reviewed by both NOAA and the state of Michigan. As equal partners in the management of the sanctuary, NOAA and the State of Michigan will mutually agree upon the new members of the council. A member and an alternate will be selected for each seat. All applicants will be notified of their selected or non-selected status.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve was designated October 7, 2000. The sanctuary protects the nationally significant collection of shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay region.

NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program seeks to increase the 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 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.

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

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

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

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve: http://thunderbay.noaa.gov