NOAA 2005-R440
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Sherman
5/12/05
 NOAA News Releases 2005
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NOAA’S CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
ANNOUNCES NEW ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary announced the appointment of 13 members and alternates to serve on the sanctuary’s advisory council.

“For more than six years, the sanctuary advisory council has provided an essential public forum for sharing community ideas on how best to maintain the long-term health of the marine sanctuary,” said Sanctuary Manager Chris Mobley. “This input and that of the public has significantly shaped the sanctuary’s management activities and plans for the future. In this celebratory 25th anniversary year of the sanctuary, we are encouraged by the continuing community support and active involvement of our advisory council members.”

“The new group of sanctuary advisory council members introduce a wealth of ocean experience and a broad diversity of perspectives on marine resource management,” said Diane Meester, advisory council chairperson. “The advisory council is very fortunate to be able to work with these dedicated individuals, and I expect they will serve the community’s interests well.”

The following individuals were recently named to fill open primary and/or alternate seats representing tourism, public at-large, Chumash community, commercial fishing, non-consumptive recreation, business, research and conservation:

  • Tourism: Primary member: Lauri Baker, Santa Barbara, Calif. Baker is head of sales and marketing at the new Hotel Andalucia in Santa Barbara.
  • Public At-Large: Primary member: Eric Kett, Santa Barbara, Calif. Kett brings a wealth of experience to the advisory council, including recreational fishing and many years of scuba dive charter operations at the Channel Islands. Alternate member: Phyllis Grifman, Ventura, Calif. Grifman is the associate director of the Sea Grant Program at the University of Southern California and has extensive experience in marine and environmental policy.
  • Chumash Community: Primary member: Ricardo Melendez, Ventura, Calif. With heritage tracing back to the Turtle Clan of the Chumash, Melendez has a broad base of experiences with the Wishtoyo Foundation, the Candelario American Indian Council and the Chumash Maritime Association. Alternate member: Paulette Cabugos, Santa Barbara, Calif. Cabugos is a founding member of the Chumash Maritime Association and a Barbareno Chumash Council Member.
  • Commercial Fishing: Primary member: Chris Hoeflinger, Newbury Park, Calif. Hoeflinger has 15 years of commercial fishing experience in and around the sanctuary and is a frequent fisheries management advisor to the California Department of Fish and Game. Alternate member: Jim Marshall, Carpinteria, Calif. Marshall has more than 35 years of experience within the waters of the sanctuary, including 33 years of sea urchin harvesting, and is very active in founding and promoting collaborative marine research and monitoring programs, including the local Collaborative Marine Research Program and the Barefoot Ecologist Program.
  • Non-consumptive Recreation: Primary member: Warren Glaser, Ventura, Calif. For almost 50 years Glaser has been instructing scuba, conducting kayaking tours, sailing and enjoying other activities at the Channel Islands. Glaser is currently a member of the Channel Islands Naturalist Corps. Alternate member: Scott Dunn, Carpinteria, Calif. Dunn has been a kayak guide in and around the Channel Islands for more than 15 years and is also a naturalist with Island Packers.
  • Business: Primary member: William Spicer, Santa Barbara, Calif. Spicer is manager of Western Gate Publishing, a tourism and community based map and guide publishing firm, and has more than 19 years of experience in the map industry, 14 of which are within Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands area. Alternate member: William Agosta, Oxnard, Calif. Agosta is a licensed yacht and ship broker with more than 30 years of extensive marine experience, including enjoyment of the Channel Islands.
  • Research: Alternate member: Dr. Dan Brumbaugh, Santa Cruz, Calif. Employed by the American Museum of Natural History, Dr. Brumbaugh’s research focuses on the linked biological and socioeconomic functions of marine reserves and reserve networks.
  • Conservation: Primary member: Linda Krop, Santa Barbara, Calif. Krop is chief counsel for the Environmental Defense Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental protection in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

The newly appointed and reappointed members will be present at bi-monthly advisory council meetings scheduled for May 20, July 22, Sept. 23 and Nov. 18, 2005. The May 20 meeting will be held at Casa Las Palmas in Santa Barbara. All advisory council meetings are open to the public. More information is online: http://channelislands.noaa.gov/sac/main.html.

The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council was formed in December 1998 to provide advice to the sanctuary manager regarding sanctuary management. The advisory council serves as a forum for consultation and deliberation for the community, assures continued public input to management decision-making, and helps expand public awareness about the sanctuary and its resources. Serving in a volunteer capacity, the advisory council’s 21 voting members and 21 alternates represent a variety of local user groups and the general public, as well as ten local, state and federal government jurisdictions.

Since its establishment, the advisory council has played a vital role in advising the sanctuary and NOAA on critical issues. The advisory council is currently focused on issues such as the possible establishment of marine reserves or conservation areas within the sanctuary, liquefied natural gas offshore terminal proposals, the completion of a revised 5-year sanctuary management plan, development of a water quality protection program, understanding and addressing threats associated with noise pollution in the marine environment, and learning about fishing practices and Chumash cultural values associated with the sanctuary.

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1980 to protect marine resources surrounding San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara Islands. The sanctuary spans 1,252 square nautical miles extending from island shorelines to six miles offshore, encompassing a rich diversity of marine life and habitats, as well as rich historic and cultural resources. 2005 marks the sanctuary’s 25th anniversary.

NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program seeks to increase the public awareness of America’s maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, the sanctuary program manages 13 national marine sanctuaries and one coral reef ecosystem reserve that together encompass more than 150,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources.

NOAA’s National Ocean Service, which oversees the National Marine Sanctuary Program, 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, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, 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 the nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA’s National Ocean Service: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov

NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary: http://channelislands.noaa.gov

Sanctuary Advisory Council: http://channelislands.noaa.gov/sac/main.html