Sanctuary Advisory Council Recruitment
The Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary 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 quarterly meetings within the regions of San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, and Bodega Bay.
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.
The advisory council consists of 14 voting seats. The 10 voting non-governmental seats include Commercial Fishing; Community-at-Large Marin; Community-at-Large San Francisco/San Mateo; Community-at-Large Sonoma/Mendocino; Conservation (two seats); Education; Maritime Commercial Activities; Maritime Recreational Activities; and Research.
The four voting governmental seats represent the California Natural Resources Agency, National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The advisory council also includes a non-voting, non-governmental Youth seat and four non-voting, governmental seats including the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Current Vacancies (14):
Community-At-Large San Francisco/San Mateo (Primary) - 1 vacancy
Community-At-Large San Francisco/San Mateo (Alternate) - 1 vacancy
Community-at-Large Seat Description/Qualifications
- Reside in the area affected by the sanctuary;
- Proven ability to communicate with members in communities near the sanctuary;
- Experience and/or knowledge regarding marine or Great Lakes management and resource protection issues in the sanctuary;
- Experience and/or knowledge regarding public uses and activities in the sanctuary;
- 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;
- Availability of time to chair and/or participate on appropriate council working groups or subcommittees
Community-At-Large Marin (Primary) - 1 vacancy
Community-At-Large Marin (Alternate) - 1 vacancy
Community-at-Large Seat Description/Qualifications
- Reside in the area affected by the sanctuary;
- Proven ability to communicate with members in communities near the sanctuary;
- Experience and/or knowledge regarding marine or Great Lakes management and resource protection issues in the sanctuary;
- Experience and/or knowledge regarding public uses and activities in the sanctuary;
- 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;
- Availability of time to chair and/or participate on appropriate council working groups or subcommittees
Community-At-Large Mendocino/Sonoma (Alternate) - 1 vacancy
Community-at-Large Seat Description/Qualifications
- Reside in the area affected by the sanctuary;
- Proven ability to communicate with members in communities near the sanctuary;
- Experience and/or knowledge regarding marine or Great Lakes management and resource protection issues in the sanctuary;
- Experience and/or knowledge regarding public uses and activities in the sanctuary;
- 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;
- Availability of time to chair and/or participate on appropriate council working groups or subcommittees
Conservation (Primary) - 1 vacancy
Conservation (Alternate) - 1 vacancy
Conservation Seat Description/Qualifications
- Affiliation with conservation or environmental organizations active in communities near the sanctuary;
- Ability to effectively communicate with multiple organizations and the broader community of conservationists/environmentalists in the sanctuary region;
- Familiarity with marine or Great Lakes conservation issues and management approaches affecting the sanctuary;
- Direct experience working with or representing conservation or environmental organizations, especially those involved with marine or Great Lakes conservation;
- Experience, ability and availability to conduct conservation outreach consistent with the goals of the sanctuary and the mission of the council;
- Commitment and availability of time to chair and/or participate on the council’s conservation working group or subcommittee.
Maritime Commercial Activities (Primary) - 1 vacancy
Maritime Commercial Activities Seat Description/Qualifications
Seat Description
The advisory council consists of ten voting non-governmental seats, including a Maritime Recreational Activities seat and a Commercial Fishing seat, in addition to the Maritime Commercial Activities seat. While there will be overlap between these three seats in respect to commercial and maritime activities, the Maritime Commercial Activities seat will focus on activities related, but not limited to, commercial shipping and maritime transportation in the sanctuary, harbors catering to commercial maritime in the sanctuary, and maritime law and policies as they relate to the sanctuary.
Qualifications
- Familiarity and affiliation with maritime commercial activities/industry in communities near the sanctuary;
- Understanding of the links between maritime commercial activities/industry, sanctuary resources, and human activities;
- Breadth of experience and knowledge regarding law, policies, and practices related to commercial maritime activities affecting the sanctuary;
- Ability and willingness to communicate with key representatives from maritime industry;
- Availability of time to chair and/or participate on appropriate council working groups or subcommittees.
Maritime Recreational Activities (Primary) - 1 vacancy
Maritime Recreational Activities (Alternate) - 1 vacancy
Maritime Recreational Activities Seat Description/Qualifications
- Familiarity and affiliation with maritime recreational activities/industry in communities near the sanctuary;
- Understanding of the links between maritime recreational activities/industry, sanctuary resources, and human activities;
- Breadth of experience and knowledge regarding law, policies, and practices related to recreational maritime activities affecting the sanctuary;
- Ability and willingness to communicate with key representatives from maritime industry;
- Availability of time to chair and/or participate on appropriate council working groups or subcommittees.
Commercial Fishing (Primary) - 1 vacancy
Commercial Fishing (Alternate) - 1 vacancy
Commercial Fishing Seat Description/Qualifications
- Familiarity and affiliation with fishing organizations active in communities near the sanctuary;
- Knowledge of commercial fishing activities within the sanctuary region;
- Breadth of experience and knowledge regarding fisheries law, policies, and practices affecting the sanctuary;
- Ability and willingness to communicate with key representatives from the fishing (commercial, recreational, or both) industries;
- Availability of time to chair and/or participate on appropriate council working groups or subcommittees.
Research (Primary) - 1 vacancy
Research (Alternate) - 1 vacancy
Research Seat Description/Qualifications
- Affiliation with scientific research institutions or organizations active in communities near the sanctuary;
- Ability to effectively communicate with multiple institutions and scientists;
- Direct experience with marine or Great Lakes research programs;
- Ability and availability to conduct outreach within the research community consistent with the goals of the sanctuary and the mission of the advisory council;
- Commitment and availability to chair or participate on the advisory council’s research working group or subcommittee
How to Apply
Deadline to apply is Friday, June 5, 2026 at 11:59PM PST.
Please submit your completed application form, and any attached statements or documents, to tishma.patel@noaa.gov by the given deadline.