APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR ADVISORY COUNCIL
AT HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

The NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants to fill six vacant Sanctuary Advisory Council seats. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The seats available are for non-governmental members and include members from the following counties: Hawai`i, Honolulu, Kaua`i, and Maui, and representatives from the Education and Research communities. Seats are vacant because current terms have expired. The general public is welcome to apply and the candidates selected should expect to serve until September 2005. Applicants are chosen based upon their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying. Considerations include community and professional affiliations, philosophy regarding the conservation and management of marine resources, and the length of residence in Hawai’i.

Non-governmental terms run for two years and members will serve without pay. The council meets on average once every two to four months, depending on issues. Applicants must be Hawai‘i residents. Current holders of seats may re-apply.

A council member application package may be obtained by contacting Amy Glester at (808) 397-2655 or by email at: Amy.Glester@noaa.gov. Application packages are also available at the Sanctuary Web Site: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/. Completed applications should be mailed to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, 6700 Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 104, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825. Interested persons must submit applications by August 1, 2003.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in March 1996 to provide advice and recommendations on managing and protecting humpback whales. The council is composed of 16 government and 15 non-governmental representatives, and represents community interests and concerns to the sanctuary and NOAA. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is administered through a partnership of NOAA and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The shallow, warm waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands constitute one of the World’s most important humpback whale habitats. Approximately two-thirds of the entire North Pacific humpback whale population migrates to Hawaiian waters each winter to engage in calving, nursing and breeding activities.

The NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) seeks to increase the public awareness of America’s maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration, and educational programs. Today, 13 national marine sanctuaries encompass more than 18,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources. In addition, the NMSP is now conducting a sanctuary designation process to incorporate the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve into the national sanctuary system.

The National Marine Sanctuary Program is an office of the NOAA National Ocean Service. The NOAA Ocean Service manages the National Marine Sanctuary Program, and is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving, and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. NOAA Ocean Service balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats, and mitigating coastal hazards.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.nos.noaa.gov

National Ocean Service: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov

National Marine Sanctuary Program: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov