NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary will hold a public meeting of the Sanctuary Advisory Council at the Ocean Reef Cultural Center in Key Largo, Florida, at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The meeting will include updates on the Florida Reef Resilience Program and Bleachwatch; an update on a project to monitor and assess reef health at Cheeca Rocks; and information from Mote Marine Laboratory about how the public can contribute to C-OCEAN (Community Based Observations of Coastal Ecosystems and Assessment Network).

The council will also discuss next steps to implement a resolution passed at the August 2016 meeting to create a working group to develop a voluntary education and recognition program for charter fishing operators.

WHAT: Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting
WHEN: October 18, 2016, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Ocean Reef Cultural Center – 200 Anchor Drive, Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo 33037
WHO: NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

When arriving at Ocean Reef, inform the front gate staff that you are attending the FKNMS Advisory Council meeting. To receive more information, or to request a meeting agenda, please contact Beth Dieveney at 305-809-4710 or [email protected]

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.