NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Seeks Advisory Council Applicants
NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for nine 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 Sean Morton, sanctuary superintendent. “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 currently accepting applications for the member and alternate representing the following seats: education and outreach, fishing – commercial – shell/scale, submerged and cultural resources, and tourism – Upper Keys. The conservation and environment seat is accepting applications for the member seat only.
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 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.
Applications are due September 30, 2015. To receive an application kit, or for further information, please contact council coordinator Beth Dieveney via email at [email protected]v, by phone at 305-809-4700 ext. 228, or by mail at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Rd., Key West, FL 33040. Application kits may also be downloaded from the sanctuary’s website at http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/sac/apps.html.
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.