Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) is seeking applicants for its first advisory council. The council provides NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries with advice and recommendations on the management of the sanctuary.

Council members also act as liaisons to their communities, building a connection between the sanctuary and stakeholders.

Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council is composed of 15 voting members who represent a variety of community interests.

Applicants are being sought for the following 13 voting seats and one non-voting seat for terms of two to three years:

• Indigenous Cultural Knowledge – two members, two alternates
• Public-at-Large, San Luis Obispo County – one member, one alternate
• Public-at-Large, Santa Barbara County – one member, one alternate
• Conservation – one member, one alternate
• Education – one member, one alternate
• Research – one member, one alternate
• Tourism and Recreation – one member, one alternate
• Ports, Harbors, and Maritime Transportation – one member, one alternate
• Offshore Energy and Telecommunications – one member, one alternate
• Commercial Fishing – one member, one alternate

• Recreational Fishing – one member, one alternate
• Student Leadership – one member, one alternate (non-voting)

Applicants do not necessarily need prior first-hand experience within the sanctuary, but they should be very familiar with their constituents’ regional interests and how they relate to, or benefit, the management of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.

Anyone with the desire and ability to effectively represent their respective community’s interest in the management of the sanctuary is encouraged to apply, regardless of the applicant’s geographic location within the region, CHNMS said.

Application deadline is March 7. Applications not received or postmarked by March 7 will not be considered.

For more information, including seat descriptions and a copy of the application, visit Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council recruitment webpage.

Learn more about Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/chumash-heritage/.