NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for 13 seats on its advisory council. The council ensures public participation in sanctuary management and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent.

The sanctuary is accepting applications for members and alternates representing the following seats: citizen-at-large/Middle Keys, citizen-at-large/Upper Keys, conservation and environment, diving/Lower Keys, fishing/charter flats fishing guide (member only), fishing/commercial marine-tropical, and South Florida ecosystem restoration.

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 3-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 representatives from 11 government agencies and the 5 Monroe County municipalities.

Applications are due Sept. 15. To receive an application kit, or for further information, contact Dieveney at [email protected], 305-809-4710, or Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, P.O. Box 1083, Key Largo, FL 33037. 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.

Contacts:

Gena Parsons, 305-809-4694

Beth Dieveney, 305-809-4710