Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary accepts applications for advisory council

Volunteers are needed to fill 18 seats on the advisory council for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of the largest marine sanctuaries in the country.

The marine sanctuary stretches along 276 miles of coastline from Cambria to north of San Francisco, encompassing 6,094 square miles of ocean.

The council’s 20 participants include 13 primary and alternate members, plus seven representatives of governmental agencies. Members are selected based on their expertise and experience, community and professional affiliations, and knowledge regarding the protection and management of marine resources. Applications to serve on the council are due by Feb. 29.

Although 18 seats are opening up, there is no mass exodus, said council coordinator Nichole Rodriguez.

Each member’s term lasts three years, and many of them are expiring at the same time, she said. “If they want to keep their position, they need to reapply.”

Close to 75 percent of the current members are expected to apply to retain their positions on the council, she said, but others are welcome to apply as well. Council President Margaret “P.J.” Webb of Cambria could be among those to reapply, Rodriguez said last week.

“The sanctuary is a national treasure,” sanctuary Superintendent Paul Michel said. “The voice of the regional community living along its shores is important to stewardship decisions about its future. Members of our advisory council represent an extremely important element of our community. Their input, experience and expertise assist the sanctuary in making informed and timely decisions on how best to protect our remarkable marine wildlife and habitat.”

The council was established in 1994. Its role is to represent the public and provide the superintendent with advice on the sanctuary’s resource protection, research, education and outreach programs. Recently, the council has focused on marine protected areas in federal waters.

For information and application forms, contact Rodriguez via email at Nichole.Rodriguez@noaa.gov, by phone at 831-647-4206, or by mail at 99 Pacific Street, Building 455A, Monterey, CA 93940.

Application kits can also be downloaded from the sanctuary’s website at http://montereybay.noaa.gov.

This story was originally published February 7, 2016 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary accepts applications for advisory council."