NOAAíS Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Seeks Applicants for Advisory Council

September 30, 2008

NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill seven primary seats and nine alternate seats on its advisory council, which represents the public’s interests in sanctuary matters and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent.

The sanctuary is currently accepting applications for primary and alternate seats representing business/commerce, citizen-at-large, commercial shipping, conservation, ocean recreation, tourism, and whale watching. Sanctuary staff are also seeking applications for the fishing and Native Hawaiian alternate seats. Candidates will be selected based on their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying, community and professional affiliations, and views regarding the protection and management of marine resources.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in March 1996 to ensure continuous public participation in the management of the sanctuary. The council’s 17 voting members and 14 ex-officio members, who serve on a volunteer basis, represent a variety of local user groups, the general public, and state and federal governmental jurisdictions. Alternates attend meetings when primary members are not available and assume a seat if a primary member resigns.

The council’s role is to provide the sanctuary management with advice on the sanctuary’s resource protection, research, education and outreach programs. Recently, the council has focused on vessel-whale collisions, a primary threat to humpback whales.

Applications are due by Nov. 15, 2008. To receive an application kit or for further information, please contact council coordinator Christine Brammer via e-mail at Christine.Brammer@noaa.gov, by phone at 808-397-2651, ext. 252, or visit the sanctuary website at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov. Completed applications should be submitted to: Christine Brammer, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, 6600 Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 301, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is administered by a partnership of NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources.

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