NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council to meet in Key West
April 7, 2015
NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary will hold a public meeting of the Sanctuary Advisory Council in Key West, Fla., on Tuesday, April 21, 2015.
The meeting opens at 9:30 a.m., followed by a brief update on the latest steps in the development of the draft Environmental Impact Statement as part of the sanctuary’s marine zoning and regulatory review led by Beth Dieveney, the sanctuary’s deputy superintendent for science and policy.
At 10:35 a.m., Dr. Jeremy Jackson, a coral reef ecologist with the Smithsonian Institution and Scripps Institute of Oceanography, will give a talk on “Status and Trends of Caribbean Coral Reefs.”
At 1:30 p.m., City of Key West Mayor Craig Cates will present a formal request to create a voting seat representing the city on the Advisory Council. At 2:00 Sanctuary Superintendent Sean Morton will give a brief update on the Water Quality Protection Program. At 2:15 p.m., there will be a discussion on the next steps of the Artificial Habitat Working Group.
Before any Advisory Council decisions are made or actions taken, public comment will be taken. Public comment for items not on the agenda will be taken at 2:45 p.m., followed by general reports from state and federal agencies on recent activities.
WHAT: Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting
WHEN: April 21, 2015, 9:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
WHERE: The Westin Key West Resort and Marina,
245 Front Street, Key West, Fla., 33040
WHO: NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
To receive more information, or to request a meeting agenda, please contact Beth Dieveney at 305-809-4700 x228 or Beth.Dieveney@noaa.gov.
Authorized in 1990 and established in 1992, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations on managing and protecting the sanctuary. The council has 20 representatives and alternates from community constituent groups, and 10 government agencies have non-voting representatives on the council. Serving in a voluntary capacity, the council members represent a variety of local user groups, as well as the general public.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of critical marine habitat, including coral reef, hard bottom, sea grass meadows, mangrove communities and sand flats, as well as shipwrecks and maritime heritage resources. NOAA and the state of Florida manage the sanctuary. Visit us at http://floridakeys.noaa.gov, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join NOAA on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels.
