Press Release

MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEETS IN MONTEREY

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) Advisory Council will meet on Friday, June 2, 2000 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at The Club at Heritage Harbor (99 Pacific Street, near the recreation trail and harbor) in downtown Monterey.

The Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) will discuss several resource management issues concerning the Sanctuary, including the second release of the Sanctuary's Kelp Management Plan. "We look forward to receiving input from the Sanctuary Advisory Council on our Kelp Plan recommendations," said LCDR Michele Finn, Acting Superintendent, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary." However, this meeting is only a first step in getting comments from the public. Once released, the public will be able to comment on the plan for 60-days and attend at least four public meetings in June and July to address the topic." The SAC is not expected to provide final recommendations to NOAA until the SAC's August 2nd meeting in Cambria.

Other items on the agenda scheduled for presentation and/or discussion include and an update on the two pending fiber optic cable permits, the sanctuary ecosystem monitoring program, the upcoming Sustainable Seas Expeditions, progress reports from the Council's funding task force pilot funding projects, preparation for the Council's priority setting retreat, and potential agenda topics for the August 2 meeting in Cambria.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council was established by Federal law to assure continued public participation in the management of the Sanctuary. Its nineteen voting members represent a variety of local user groups, as well as the general public, plus seven local, state and federal governmental jurisdictions. The meeting is open to the public.

More information about the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council can be found at: http://montereybay.nos.noaa.gov/intro/advisory/advisory.html

DRAFT AGENDA	Monterey Bay Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting The Club at Heritage Harbor (near recreation trail and wharf) Downtown Monterey June 2, 2000
9:00 AM	Call to Order Roll Call Approval of 4/7/00 DRAFT Meeting Minutes Review of Correspondence
9:15 AM	Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda
9:30 AM	Discussion & Action: Second Release of MBNMS Kelp Management Plan
11:30 AM	Update: Fiber Optic Cables
12:00 PM	LUNCH
1:00 PM	Presentation: MBNMS Ecosystem Monitoring Program
1:45 PM	Presentation: Sustainable Seas Expeditions
2:15 PM	Progress Report: Funding Pilot Projects
2:30 PM	Discussion: May Retreat Follow-up and Prep for Priority-Setting Retreat
3:00 PM	Action: Set August 4 Agenda
3:15 PM	Council member announcements
3:30 PM	ADJOURN