NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries seeks advisory council applicants

group photo of advisory council chairs, representatives and staff
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries advisory council chairs and representatives and staff gather with ONMS Director, John Armor, at the 2016 National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Summit in Annapolis, Maryland.

National marine sanctuary advisory councils are community-based advisory groups established to provide advice and recommendations to the superintendents of the national marine sanctuaries on issues including management, science, service, and stewardship. They also serve as liaisons between their constituents in the community and the sanctuary.

Currently, seven national marine sanctuaries and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve are seeking applicants for vacant seats on their advisory councils.

"Across the sanctuary system, advisory council members represent a vibrant and diverse body of expertise from our local communities," said John Armor, Director of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. "Their input and experience provides the system with the critical insights needed to make well-informed decisions on how to best manage and protect our natural and cultural resources for current and future generations."

Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; views regarding the protection and management of marine or Great Lakes resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the site. Applicants chosen as members or alternates should expect to serve two or three-year terms, pursuant to the charter of the specific national marine sanctuary advisory council or Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council.

The period to accept applications opens Monday, May 1, 2017, and closes Wednesday, May 31, 2017. Instructions, including how to apply, are located in each site's individual application packet. Applications not received or postmarked by May 31 will not be considered for this recruitment period.

Please check back for future recruitment advertisements. The next advisory council recruitment will occur in August 2017.

For a complete listing of current vacancies or to apply, go to Federal Register or visit the sites below:

Site Applicant Information
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary channelislands.noaa.gov/sac/council_news.html
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary graysreef.noaa.gov/management/sac/council_news.html
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/council/council_app_accepting.html
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary monitor.noaa.gov
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary montereybay.noaa.gov
National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa americansamoa.noaa.gov
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/new-about/council/apply/
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary stellwagen.noaa.gov