Council News and Actions
Sanctuary Advisory Council News
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:35 p.m. (ET)
Location: Darien-McIntosh County Visitor Center, 1074 Magnolia Bluff Way, #410, Darien, Georgia
Important Note: In the event a federal government shutdown is
in effect
on April 1, this advisory council meeting will be cancelled and re-scheduled for a later date.
The meeting is free and open to the public for in-person attendance, or virtual attendance via an on-line GoToWebinar registration link
provided below.
A public comment period is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Anyone wishing to address the council should join the webinar no later than 1:30 p.m.
in case the meeting progresses quickly and the public comment period begins earlier than scheduled.
Agenda highlights include potential action by the council on a letter of support for the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. The
council will receive a presentation about the Darien-McIntosh County Visitor Center and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary exhibit, as
well as
local efforts to promote Darien as a Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Gateway Community. The council will also receive a briefing
from
council officers about their recent meeting with representatives of the Natural Resources Defense Council, as well as an update from the
sanctuary superintendent regarding ongoing sanctuary programs and administration. The director for the National Marine Sanctuary
Foundation, Gray’s Reef Chapter, will provide an update on current and future activities by the sanctuary’s non-profit support arm.
Sanctuary Advisory Council Actions
Council members provide advice and recommendations to the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary superintendent in the form of letters,
resolutions, and passed motions.
At times, the council suggests that these recommendations be routed to officials within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, or other entities.
Below are actions of the Gray's Reef Sanctuary Advisory Council.
2023
The SAC formed by general consent a Citizen Science Working Group to investigate citizen science opportunities supporting GRNMS and
submit findings and recommendations to the SAC no later than July 2, 2024 - 18 October 2023
The SAC formed by general consent a Public Engagement Working Group to develop an engagement strategy to advance public awareness
of, and connection to, GRNMS through SAC representatives; implement at least one activity during CY2024; and report to the SAC on
event outcome(s) and future strategy no later than October 9, 2024 - 18 October 2023
The SAC approved by general consent the following list of priority advisory council work items for the next 18 months:
- Investigate citizen science opportunities within GRNMS and make recommendations
- Provide recommendations to NOAA regarding the President’s 30X30 conservation initiative
- Explore effective collaboration among the SAC, sanctuary, and GRNMS Foundation Chapter to build synergistic support for
sanctuary programs and needs
- Develop an engagement strategy to enhance public awareness of, and connection to, GRNMS through their SAC representatives and
implement at least one activity. - 18 July 2023
The council passed a motion 10-0 to recommend to the sanctuary superintendent that the current Fishing Industry seat on the council
be converted to a Tourism Seat upon the next revision of the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Charter - 11
January 2023.
The council passed a motion 10-0 to recommend to the sanctuary superintendent that he assess installing mooring buoys within Gray's
Reef National Marine Sanctuary as part of the upcoming management plan review and update - 11 January 2023.
2022
Letter to John Armor, director of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, regarding advisory council concerns with text and
conditions within likeness and copyright release forms used by NOAA for advisory council administrative purposes - View/Download - 1 November 2022
Established the 30 x 30 Working Group to explore existing regional activities or new proposals for President Biden's 30 X 30
Conserving America the Beautiful Initiative that relate directly to natural resource and habitat conservation at GRNMS - 24 March
2022.
Received and accepted final reports from, and subsequently disbanded, the Science Advisory Working Group (SAG) and the Recreational
Fishing Working Group - 24 March 2022.
Confirmed that the Law Enforcement Working Group had accomplished past assigned goals and disbanded the group - 24 March 2022.
2021
Letter to John Armor, director of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries,
regarding
advisory council recommendations about the Conserving America the Beautiful
Initiative
(also
known as the 30x30 Initiative) - View/Download
- 29 November 2021
Letter to Stan Rogers, superintendent of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, regarding final
report out and dissolution of the Ecological Connectivity Working Group of the advisory council. View/Download - 5 February 2021.
Letter to Michael Denmark, chair of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, regarding
final report out of the Ecological Connectivity Working Group of the advisory council. View/Download - 29 January 2021.
2018
Letter in response to the call for public comments on the Five-Year Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Draft Proposed Program (OPP) for 2019 to 2024, as proposed by the Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and referenced in Federal Register Volume 83, Number 5 (Monday, January
8, 2018) Notices, Pages 829-834,FR Doc No: 2018-0008 -
View/Download - 2 March
2018
2017
Letter to John Armor, director of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, regarding visitor use
at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary - View/Download - 29 November 2017
2010-2015
Letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Environmental Studies Program - View/Download - 20 November 2015
Letter of Support for Characterizing and Monitoring Natural and Anthropogenic Sound in Gray's Reef
National Marine Sanctuary - View/Download - 16
June 2014
Comment Letter on the Proposed Rule to Eliminate the Expiration Date Contained in the Final Rule to
Reduce the Threat of Ship Collisions with North Atlantic Right Whales - View/Download - 26
July 2013
Letter of Support for Reactivation of the Site Evaluation list - View/Download - 9 October 2012
Ocean Acidification Resolution - View/Download
- 28 January 2010.
Letter of Recommendation on Research Coordinator Position - View/Download - 15 April 2010
1999-2009
Recommendations on Research Area Designation - View/Download - 19
August 2008
Recommendations on Research Area Designation - View/Download -
22 June 2005
