Sanctuary Advisory Council recruitment

National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa seeks applicants for the Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC). The council ensures public participation in sanctuary management and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent. The SAC holds typically holds two to four meetings per year at the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center. For additional information call 684-633-6500.

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 should expect to serve a three-year term. Service on the council is on a volunteer basis.

The Sanctuary Advisory Council was established to ensure continuous public participation in the management of the sanctuary. The council's 17 voting members and eight non-voting members serve on a volunteer basis and represent a variety of local user groups, the public, and territorial and federal governmental jurisdictions.

For additional information on Office of National Marine Sanctuaries advisory councils and links to council charters and the National Advisory Council Handbook please visit: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/management/ac/

Application deadline is October 31, 2020

Application Form (PDF 118kb)

CURRENT VACANCIES (1):

• Community-at-Large: Tutuila West Area (voting)
• Youth Member (age 18-25)
• Education
• Fishing
• Ocean Recreation – Ocean Centered Ecotourism
• Community at Large – Swains Island

Sanctuary Advisory Council non-governmental representative description for seat being recruited

Community-at-Large Representative - Tutuila West area (Voting): familiarity with communities near the sanctuary, experience and/or knowledge regarding marine or management and resources protection issues in the sanctuary; experience and/or knowledge regarding public uses and activities in the sanctuary; and freedom to express views and cast votes without consideration of any expectations held by an employer or other organization with which the member is affiliated. Community-at-Large representatives should be willing and able to meet with constituents to discuss sanctuary issues and ideas and be able to report these back to the council as a whole.

Youth member (Voting): A non-governmental, non-voting student member represents the youth and young adult segment of the community, defined as ages 18-25. A youth member may be appointed for a term of two years, and may compete for reappointment unless the individual will exceed the age limit during the additional term.

Education Representative (Voting): affiliation with educational institutions or organizations in the sanctuary region; ability to effectively communicate with multiple institutions and educators; direct experience with marine education programs; experience, ability, and availability to conduct educational outreach consistent with the goals of the sanctuary and the mission of the council; and commitment and availability of time to chair a council Education Committee.

Fishing Representatives (Voting): knowledge of subsistence, recreational and/or commercial fishing activities within American Samoa; breadth of experience and knowledge regarding fisheries law, policies, and practices affecting the sanctuary; and ability and willingness to communicate with key representatives from sanctuary communities and the fishing community.

Ocean Recreation/Ocean Centered Ecotourism Representative (Voting): familiarity and affiliation with the ocean recreation industry in communities near the sanctuary region; understanding of the links between ocean recreation, sanctuary resources, and human activities, and the ability and willingness to communicate with key representatives from the ocean recreation industry.