NOAA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Seeks Applicants for Advisory Council

March 02, 2009

NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill one primary seat and three alternate positions on its advisory council, which represents the public’s interests in sanctuary matters and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent.

Sanctuary staff are currently accepting applications for a primary member seat representing diving (Upper Keys). The sanctuary is also accepting applications for alternates for the citizen-at-large (Middle Keys), recreational fishing, and tourism (Upper Keys) 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 knowledge regarding the protection and management of marine resources.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in 1991 to assure continuous public participation in the management of the sanctuary. The volunteer council’s 40 voting members alternates and its ex-officio members 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.

Specifically, the council's role is to provide the sanctuary superintendent with advice on the sanctuary’s resource protection, research, education and outreach programs. Recently, the council has focused on restoration, research, outreach and education, and marine zoning.

Applications are due by March 23, 2009. To receive an application kit or for further information, please contact Lilli Ferguson at 305-292-0311 ext. 245 or by e-mail at Lilli.Ferguson@noaa.gov. Application packages are also available for download on the sanctuary’s Web site, http://floridakeys.noaa.gov. Completed applications should be submitted to Lilli Ferguson, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Rd., Key West, FL 33040.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,896 square nautical miles of critical marine habitat, including coral reef, hard bottom, seagrass meadows, mangrove communities and sand flats. NOAA and the state of Florida manage the sanctuary.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.