Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary seeks advisory council applicants for 31 seats

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants to fill 16 primary and 15 alternate seats on its advisory council.

The sanctuary is accepting applications for the following seats:

• Business/Commerce (primary)
• Commercial Shipping (primary & alternate)
• Conservation (primary & alternate)
• Education (primary & alternate)
• Fishing (primary & alternate)
• Hawai‘i Island Representative (primary & alternate)
• Kauaʻi Island Representative (primary & alternate)
• Lāna‘i Island Representative (primary & alternate)
• Maui Island Representative (primary)
• Moloka‘i Island (primary & alternate)
• Native Hawaiian (primary & 2 alternates)
• O‘ahu Island (alternate)
• Ocean Recreation (primary & alternate)
• Research (primary)
• Tourism (primary & alternate)
• Whale Watching (primary & alternate)
• Youth (primary & alternate)

The council ensures public participation in sanctuary matters and provides advice to sanctuary management.

“The members of our sanctuary advisory council are essential to ensuring community input and engagement in our sanctuary management,” Kim Hum, sanctuary superintendent, said in a press release. “We rely on their local knowledge, experience and expertise to assist us in making informed and timely decisions on how best to protect and conserve humpback whales and their habitat as well as important cultural and other natural resources.”

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 three-year term and regularly attend quarterly meetings.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2023. To receive an application kit or for further information, contact Sara Wood via email at [email protected] or visit the sanctuary website.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, administered by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the State of Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources, protects humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaiian waters where they migrate each winter to mate, calve, and nurse their young.