Monitor Marine Sanctuary seeks to fill eight seats on advisory council

May 6, 2016 | Local News

NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for the primary community member seats of maritime archaeological research, conservation, recreational diving (two seats), heritage tourism, ocean sports, recreational/commercial fishing, and citizen-at-large on its advisory council.

The council ensures public participation in sanctuary management and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent.

“The members of our advisory council represent an extremely important element of our community,” said David Alberg, sanctuary superintendent. “Their input, experience and expertise assist the sanctuary in making informed and timely decisions on how to best manage our underwater heritage and resources.”

The advisory council consists of 21 members and nine alternates, representing a variety of local user groups, the general public, as well as local, state and federal government entities. Council representatives meet three to four times each year in half to full-day public sessions at various locations on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and in Newport News, Va.

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 a two-year term.

Applications are due Tuesday, May 31. Application kits can be downloaded from the sanctuary’s website at http://monitor.noaa.gov/advisory/news.html. To receive an application kit, or for further information, please contact Will Sassorossi, Sanctuary Advisory Council coordinator, via e-mail at William.Sassorossi@noaa.gov; by phone at (757) 591-7329; or by mail at 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606-3759.

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary became the nation’s first marine sanctuary in 1975, protecting the wreck of the famed Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, best known for its battle with the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia in Hampton Roads, Virginia, on March 9, 1862.

For more information, go to the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary website at http://monitor.noaa.gov