Applications for advisory council seats opening in early January 2025!

NOAA will begin accepting applications for sanctuary advisory council seats in early January 2025. The application window will be open for 60 days. NOAA will review applications on a rolling basis and notify selected applicants. Once all seats have been selected, the first advisory council meeting will take place in Spring 2025. More information on recruitment and the application process will be posted on this website. You can also sign up for this listserv to receive a notification when the application period opens.

NOAA is establishing a Sanctuary Advisory Council for Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. The advisory council will bring members of the local community together to develop advice and recommendations on the management and protection of sanctuary resources. Council members also serve as liaisons to their communities, building a strong connection between the sanctuary and community partners.

The Sanctuary Advisory Council will include 15 voting seat members and 15 alternates reflecting a variety of local community interests and experience relevant to the sanctuary, including:

  • Local user-groups
  • Tribal and Indigenous Knowledge
  • Conservation and other public interest organizations
  • Scientific and educational expertise
  • Interested members of the public
  • Federal, state, or local agency representatives with expertise relevant to the management of marine resources and activities within the area

The advisory council will also have additional categories of non-voting seats: government agencies, students, and local representatives from NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

A core element of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is developing and implementing a Framework for Indigenous Collaborative Co-Stewardship. This will eventually lead to the formation of a special Sanctuary Advisory Council working group—the Indigenous Cultures Advisory Panel—to provide for the respectful and meaningful involvement of representatives and partners from multiple local Tribes and Indigenous communities.

In addition, NOAA intends to create a separate Intergovernmental Policy Council, which will bring together federally recognized Tribes (the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians) with the state of California and NOAA.

More Information: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Advisory Councils

For inquiries about the Sanctuary Advisory Council please contact chumash.heritage@noaa.gov.