National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Councils
Site-focused, community-based councils advising National Marine Sanctuary System leadership
National marine sanctuary advisory councils are community-based advisory groups established to provide advice and recommendations to the superintendents of the 14 sites on issues including management, science, service, and stewardship. The more than 440 members, including alternates, represent a broad cross-section of the communities that lie adjacent to national marine sanctuaries, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument), and represent such interests as conservation, education, research, fishing, whale watching, diving and other recreational activities, boating and shipping, tourism, harbors and ports, maritime business, agriculture, and maritime heritage; and jurisdictional partners from local, regional, state, tribal, territorial and federal agencies.
Sanctuary System Business Advisory Council
Program-focused council connecting the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries with national business interests
The National Marine Sanctuary System Business Advisory Council is a national-level advisory group chartered to provide advice and recommendations to the Director of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) on the relationship of ONMS with corporate interests and others in the business community. The council consists of no more than 15 individuals, from private entities such as corporations or corporate foundations, with interest in natural and cultural resource protection. Individuals appointed to the council represent such interests as travel and tourism, recreation, fishing, transportation, communication and marketing, and energy, among others.
Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee
Nationally focused committee advising NOAA and the U.S. Department of the Interior
The Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) advises both NOAA and the Department of the Interior on ways to strengthen and expand the nation’s system of marine protected areas. The MPA FAC is made up of 20 individuals representing a broad stakeholder community, including scientists, academia, commercial fishermen, anglers, state and tribal resource managers, the energy and tourism industries, and conservationists, among others. The MPA FAC is authorized by Executive Order 13158 and is supported by the National Marine Protected Areas Center.