A pod of long-beaked common dolphins surfacing in the sanctuary. Photo: Chad King/NOAA
By Christine Heinrichs
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council is working up the criteria to define the representation for a new seat on the council, to represent the Maritime Industry and Ocean Energy.
The SAC held its quarterly meeting in Cambria in May, meeting at the southern end of the sanctuary for the first time in two years. Meetings are open to the public.
Council members concurred that having a maritime representative, with priority given to commercial shipping, would add a valuable perspective from “on the water” experiences to council discussions and recommendations. Shipping is a major legally authorized industry operating within the sanctuary.
“Representation of the shipping industry is long overdue,” said Brandon Southall, research member.
Public-private partnerships such as Blue Whales Blue Skies can reduce ship strikes on whales, reduce underwater noise, and reduce air pollution.
Other SACs, such as Greater Farallones NMS Advisory Council, have maritime representatives. The subject came up when a retired oil company executive with seagoing background as a master mariner, and experience with oil spill cleanup, applied to the MBNMS Advisory Council.
The subcommittee working on that will bring more information to the June meeting, which will be in Salinas. Remote, Zoom, attendance, is available.
Photo by Kip Evans
National marine sanctuary advisory council members represent a variety of interests, from fishing to science to conservation. MBNMS Advisory Council is a community-based group that provides advice and recommendations to the MBNMS superintendent. The council also serves as liaison between the community and the sanctuary. Sanctuary advisory councils provide advice about sanctuary operations and projects, including education and outreach, research and science, regulations and enforcement, and management planning. https://montereybay.noaa.gov/sac/
Ocean Guardian School Program
Morro Bay Montessori Family Partnership Charter School in Morro Bay participates in the Ocean Guardian School Program. The program provides seed money to help schools develop their own programs.
“The Montessori school got extremely creative,” said Deputy Superintendent Dawn Hayes. Their program focused on the fashion industry. They held Climate Action Clothing Swaps, to keep clothing out of waste sites. Seniors came in and taught students how to repair clothes. “it was positive climate action and saved money,” Hayes said.
Morro Bay Montessori got a $4,000 grant to get their program started. Other schools have focused on replacing plastic cafeteria utensils with reusable ones, mapped local watersheds, identified invasive species, and created more green space around their schools.
The NOAA Ocean Guardian School Program engages K-12 students (public, private or charter schools) in the protection and conservation of local watersheds, the ocean and special ocean areas like national marine sanctuaries. Find more information at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian/
Thanks to Dawn Hayes
The Cambria meeting was the last one for Hayes, who is retiring in July. Members got emotional thanking her for her service. This writer has been on the SAC a year, and Dawn has helped me learn about the many sanctuary services and responsibilities.
For a smooth transition, Seaberry Nachbar has been shadowing Hayes, and will step into her responsibilities. Nachbar has worked for NOAA for more than 20 years and is currently education coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in Monterey.
MBNMS Extends South to Cambria
NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary encompasses a remarkably productive marine environment, ranging from its kelp forests to rocky shores, sandy beaches, estuaries, the Davidson Seamount, and Monterey Canyon. Its coastline stretches 276 miles and 6,094 square miles of ocean. The sanctuary was designated in 1992 to protect these marine ecosystems and cultural and maritime resources while promoting sustainable use. The sanctuary allows for recreational and commercial activities while conserving natural resources, water quality, habitats, and bountiful resident and migratory marine life. Find out more at https://montereybay.noaa.gov/
Christine Heinrichs is the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council SLO At-Large member. Follow her on Facebook, Bluesky, LinkedIn and Substack.
