Press Releases

NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
Seeks Advisory Council Applicants

NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for five seats on its Sanctuary 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 sanctuary managers in making informed and timely decisions on how best to protect our wildlife and habitats."

The sanctuary is accepting applications for the following seats: Citizen-at-Large, Recreational/ Commercial Fishing (2), Heritage Tourism, and Economic Development. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve two-year terms, pursuant to the council's charter.

The advisory council consists of 18 members, including six government seats representing the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, National Park Service, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Applications are due April 29, 2011. To receive an application or for further information, please contact Shannon Ricles by phone at 757-591-7328 or by email at Shannon.ricles@noaa.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to Shannon Ricles, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, Va., 23606.

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was in 1975 as the Nation's first marine sanctuary to protect the wreck of the famed Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, best known for its battle with the Confederate ironclad, CSS Virginia in Hampton Roads, Va., on March 9, 1862.

NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.

On the Web:

NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries