Council Recruitment

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is not currently recruiting for the sanctuary's advisory council. For more information on the next recruitment window, please contact the advisory council coordinator.

The advisory council has 21 seats representing a variety of public perspectives, including research, education, fishing, diving, conservation, community interests, and state and federal government activities.

Recruitment for Sanctuary Advisory Council seats generally occurs in late spring and late fall.

The Gray's Reef Advisory Council provides NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries with advice and recommendations on the management of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. The Advisory Council is composed of 21 members representing a variety of interests, including, fishing, diving, conservation, science, education, tourism, the general public, and state and federal government.

Term lengths for council members are three years and incumbent members can serve up to three consecutive terms if they re-compete for each additional term and are re-selected. The advisory council generally meets four times each year, and council working group and subcommittee meetings occur as necessary to study specific topics. Meetings may occur in person or virtually.

Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; views regarding the protection and management of Gray's Reef's resources; and the applicant's ties to the stakeholder group they wish to represent. Applicants chosen as members are expected to serve a three-year term, attend advisory council meetings, and serve as liaisons both for and to the stakeholder group they represent.

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries values the remarkable variety of knowledge, perspectives, and experience found throughout sanctuary communities, and invites a wide range of individuals to seek membership on our sanctuary advisory councils. Due to their multifaceted membership, advisory councils help promote enhanced public understanding and participation in marine conservation and governance, foster innovation and creative problem solving, and advance the mission of the National Marine Sanctuary System to facilitate public use, enjoyment, and stewardship of special marine areas.

Prior visitation to Gray's Reef is not a requirement for serving on the advisory council.

For more information about the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, including recruitment, contact Scott Kathey, Resource Protection Coordinator, at scott.kathey@noaa.gov or 912-598-2381.