Sanctuary
Advisory Council (SAC)
Membership | Meeting Minutes | Charter | Actions | Documents
About
the Sanctuary Advisory Council
Under
provisions of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the Secretary
of Commerce is authorized to establish Sanctuary Advisory Councils.
The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary established a
new Council on October 3, 2001.
The
Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) is a community-based body that advises the Sanctuary Superintendent
on issues relevant to the effective implementation of the Sanctuary
Management Plan. The Council is the formal organizational link
to the Sanctuary's user community and others interested in the
management of this nationally significant area of the marine
environment.
Duties of the Council include:
•
Providing advice and recommendations to the Superintendent regarding
management of the Sanctuary drawing upon the expertise of its
members and other sources;
• Serving as liaisons between their communities and the
Sanctuary by keeping the Sanctuary staff informed of issues
and concerns, as well as performing outreach to their respective
communities on the Sanctuary's behalf;
• Serving as a forum for consultation and deliberation
among its members and as a source of consensus advice to the
Superintendent.
The Council membership is to be made up of 17 non-governmental
voting members, one non-voting youth member, and six governmental ex-officio members (non-voting).
The non-governmental members are selected to represent local
user groups, conservation and other public interest organizations,
scientific and educational organizations, or members of the
public interested in the protection and multiple use management
of Sanctuary resources. Representatives from the following groups
have been chosen:
- Research (2)
- Conservation (2)
- Education (2)
- Recreational Fishing (1)
- Whale Watching (1)
- Fixed Gear Commercial Fishing (1)
- Mobile Gear Commercial Fishing (1)
- Marine Transportation (1)
- Business/Industry (1)
- Maritime Heritage (1)
- Diving (1)
- Citizens-at-Large (3)
- Youth (1)
The
governmental members represent agencies with regulatory authorities
or other direct interests in the Sanctuary and its resources.
The member organizations are:
- National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region (federal
fisheries and protected species management)
- New England Regional Fishery Management Council (federal
fisheries management planning)
- U.S. Coast Guard (federal marine resources and maritime
enforcement)
- Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (state-federal
ocean management consistency)
- Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (state ocean
fisheries management)
- Massachusetts Division of Law Enforcement (cooperative
state-federal environmental law enforcement)
For more information about the Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary Advisory
Council, please refer to the Charter.
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