Humpback Whale Sanctuary Seeks Advisory Council Applicants

Whale Breech. PC: Ellen Raimo/ Kīhei, Maui (1.12.17)

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill five primary and two alternate seats on its advisory council. The council is designed to ensure public participation in sanctuary matters and provides advice to sanctuary management.

“The members of our advisory council represent an extremely important element of our community,” said Malia Chow, sanctuary superintendent. “Their input, experience and expertise assist sanctuary managers in making informed and timely decisions on how best to protect and conserve our important cultural and natural resources.”

The sanctuary is accepting applications for the following seats: business/commerce (primary); Molokai Island (primary and alternate); Native Hawaiian (primary); Oahu Island (primary and alternate); and tourism (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 or alternate members should expect to serve a two-year term.

Applications are due by Tuesday, Feb. 28. To receive an application kit or for further information, please contact Shannon Ruseborn via email at [email protected]; by phone at 808-725-5905; or visit the sanctuary website. Completed applications should be submitted to: NOAA Inouye Regional Center, NOS/HIHWNMS/Shannon Ruseborn, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.

The sanctuary is administered by a partnership of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the State of Hawaiʻi through the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The sanctuary works to protect humpback whales through research, education, conservation and stewardship.

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.