Sanctuary Advisory Council

large group of advisory council members standing outside posing for photo
Advisory council members provide recommendations for sanctuary management strategies. Photo: Haven Parker/NOAA

National marine sanctuary advisory councils are community-based advisory groups established to provide advice and recommendations to the superintendents of the national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments. Councils also serve as liaisons between their constituents in the community and sanctuaries. Sanctuary advisory councils provide advice about sanctuary operations and projects, including education and outreach, research and science, regulations and enforcement, and management planning. They are particularly critical in helping a sanctuary during the designation process for new sanctuaries and the management plan review process for established sites. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in 1994 and plays a critical role in connecting local communities with the sanctuary.

Duties of the council include:

  • Providing advice and recommendations to the superintendent regarding management of the sanctuary drawing upon the expertise of its members and other sources
  • Serving as liaisons between their communities and the sanctuary by keeping sanctuary staff informed of issues and concerns, as well as performing outreach to their respective communities on the sanctuary's behalf
  • Serving as a forum for consultation and deliberation among its members and as a source of consensus advice to the superintendent

Council members represent a variety of interests, from fishing to science to conservation. Meetings of the advisory council are open to the public and provide a place where community interests, support, and concerns are heard. The council operates under a charter and serves strictly in a voluntary, advice-giving role for sanctuary management strategies.

Get Involved

The advisory council consists of 20 voting public members, seven government members, and seven non-voting members. Council seats represent the following user groups: Agriculture, At-Large, Business/Industry, College, Commercial Fishing, Conservation, Diving, Education, Recreation, Recreational Fishing, Research, and Tourism.

All advisory council meetings are open to the public. Quarterly meetings are held within Santa Cruz, Salinas, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo areas. The public is also welcome to attend working group meetings of the advisory council.

Advisory Council Member Recruitment

Individuals appointed to the 20 public seats on the advisory council serve voluntary terms of one to three years. Once each year, with the approach of end-of-term dates for various seats, a recruitment period is opened for interested persons to apply for open positions. Any U.S. citizen or person with legal permanent resident status is invited to apply for open council seats. Currently serving advisory council members may also seek to be reappointed, subject to term limit provisions described within the council charter.

There are currently no open positions

For more information about the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, contact Robbin Porter, advisory council coordinator, Robbin.Porter@noaa.gov.