Key West The Newspaper

NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for 14 seats on its advisory council. The council ensures public participation in sanctuary management and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent.

“Advisory council members are important conduits to the community, helping inform sanctuary management decisions,” said Beth Dieveney, deputy superintendent for science and policy. “Council members selected this term will play a critical role in shaping the future of marine conservation during the sanctuary’s marine zoning and regulatory review.”

The sanctuary is accepting applications for the members and alternates representing the following seats: boating industry (primary and alternate); citizen-at-large/Upper Keys (primary and alternate); diving/Upper Keys (primary and alternate); fishing/charter sports fishing (primary and alternate); fishing/recreational (primary and alternate); research and monitoring (primary); research and monitoring (alternate); and tourism/Lower Keys (primary and alternate).

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 should expect to serve three-year terms, pursuant to the council’s charter.

The advisory council consists of 40 primary and alternate members representing a variety of public interest groups. It also includes primary and alternate representatives from 11 government agencies and primary representatives from the five Monroe County municipalities.

Applications are due August 31. To receive an application kit, or for further information, please contact Beth Dieveney, via email at [email protected]; by phone at 305-809-4710; or by mail at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Road, Key West, FL 33040. Application kits may also be downloaded from the sanctuary’s website, http://floridakeys.noaa.gov.

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. NOAA and the State of Florida manage the sanctuary. Visit us online at floridakeys.noaa.gov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/floridakeysnoaagov.

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 us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our other social media channels.

On the web:
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: http://floridakeys.noaa.gov
Sanctuary Advisory Council: http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/sac/welcome.html
FKNMS SAC Recruitment: http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/sac/apps.html