Whale Sanctuary Seeking Advisory Council Applicants

Photo courtesy of NOAA

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill seven primary and 10 alternate seats on its advisory council. There are still two weeks left until the Nov. 30 deadline to apply for the seats. The council ensures 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.”

Photo courtesy of NOAA

The sanctuary is accepting applications for the following seats: Kauaʻi County (primary and alternate); Hawaiʻi County (primary and alternate); Lānaʻi Island (alternate); citizen-at-large (alternate); education (alternate); tourism (alternate); whale watching (primary and alternate); fishing (primary and alternate); research (primary); Honolulu County (primary); Maui County (primary and alternate); and Molokai Island (alternate).

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 members or alternates should expect to serve a two-year term.

Photo courtesy of NOAA

Applications are due Nov. 30. To receive an application kit or for further information, contact Denise Shiraki, via email at Denise.Shiraki@noaa.gov; by phone at 808-725-5903; or visit the sanctuary website HERE.

Completed applications should be submitted to: Inouye Regional Center, ATTN: NOS/HIHWNMS/Denise Shiraki, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.

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

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. Join them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our other social media channels.

Visit http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov for more information.