NOAA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Seeks Advisory Council Applicants
July 12, 2010
NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill ten primary seats and ten alternate seats on its advisory council, which represents the public’s interests in sanctuary matters and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent.
“Advisory Council members play a vital role in the sanctuary, acting as conduits to community stakeholders and helping inform management decisions,” said Sean Morton, acting sanctuary superintendent.
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, enforcement, maritime heritage resources surveys, marine spatial planning, and climate change.
The sanctuary is currently accepting applications for the primary member seats representing the Boating Industry, Citizen at Large/Upper Keys, Diving/Upper Keys, Charter Sports Fishing, Commercial Marine/Tropical Fishing, Recreational Fishing, Research and Monitoring, South Florida Ecosystem Restoration, Tourism/Lower Keys, and Tourism/Upper Keys.
The sanctuary is also accepting applications for the alternate seats representing the Boating Industry, Citizen at Large/Middle Keys, Citizen at Large/Upper Keys, Diving/Upper Keys, Charter Sports Fishing, Commercial Marine/Tropical Fishing, Commercial Shell/Scale Fishing, Recreational Fishing, Research and Monitoring, and Tourism/Lower Keys.
Candidates are 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. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve three-year terms, pursuant to the council’s Charter.
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 and alternates and its ex-officio members represent a variety of local user groups, the general public, and state and federal governmental jurisdictions.
Applications are due Aug. 6, 2010. To receive an application or for further information, please contact Lilli Ferguson at 305-292-0311 ext. 245, or by e-mail at Lilli.Ferguson@noaa.gov. Application kits 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.
