PORT ANGELES — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for five seats 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 a vibrant and diverse body of expertise from our community,” said Carol Bernthal, sanctuary superintendent.
“Their input and experience assist the sanctuary in making well-informed decisions on how to best manage and protect our cultural and natural resources.
“Advisory council members equip us with increased capacity to problem-solve around the issues we face today.”
The sanctuary is accepting applications for the following seats: research (primary and alternate), citizen-at-large (primary and alternate) and marine resources committee (primary).
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 primary members or alternate members should expect to serve a three-year term.
The advisory council consists of 22 seats with 42 primary and alternate members, representing a variety of public interest groups, state and federal agencies, and tribes including Research, Commercial Fishing, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Ecology, Coast Guard, Olympic National Park, U.S. Geological Survey, four coastal treaty tribes and others.
Applications are due Dec. 31.
To receive an application kit or for further information, contact sanctuary advisory coordinator Karlyn Langjahr at Karlyn.Langjahr@noaa.gov or 360-457-6622, ext. 31; contact Norma Klein, office administrator, via Norma.Klein@noaa.gov or 360-457-6622, ext. 10; or mail the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, 115 E. Railroad Ave., Suite 301, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Application kits also can be downloaded from the sanctuary’s website at tinyurl.com/pdn-marinecouncilapp.
