May 16 — Public is invited to attend a hybrid meeting of NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council

SANTA BARBARA — The public is invited to attend a hybrid meeting of NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council in-person at Santa Barbara Zoo with an option for joining online. The event will take place on May 16 from 9:00 am – 12:45 pm. Meeting highlights will include a presentation on the development of biodegradable materials for ocean application, updates on Whale Conservation in the Santa Barbara Channel and more!

NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Advisory Council Meeting

The public is invited to attend a hybrid meeting of NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine

Sanctuary (CINMS) Advisory Council. This meeting will feature Council member announcements, the

sanctuary superintendent’s report, presentations on upcoming CINMS projects, and more.

Friday, May 16, 2025; 9:00am-12:45pm PT

In-person at the Santa Barbara Zoo or online via Google Meet

Advisory Council members representing commercial fishing, recreational fishing, non-consumptive

recreation, tourism, business, research, education, conservation, the Chumash community,

public-at-large, and government agencies; and sanctuary superintendent Chris Mobley

Draft Meeting Agenda (subject to change; please check the Meeting Announcements web page for the most

up-to-date information)

9:00am Welcome, Council Member Announcements, Sanctuary Superintendent’s Report, ONMS Director’s

Report

10:25am Nereid Biomaterials

11:05am Sanctuary Support Letter Drafting Subcommittee: Report out and Council Discussion

11:45am Public Comment

11:55am Whale Conservation Annual Program Updates

12:40am Close out and Next Steps

12:45pm Adjourn, Optional Post-Meeting Lunch

For more information, visit channelislands.noaa.gov/sac/welcome.html.

Media resources are available at channelislands.noaa.gov/news/media_resources.html.

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary protects 1,470 square miles of marine resources surrounding San

Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara Islands. Designated in 1980, the sanctuary

encompasses a rich diversity of marine life, habitats, and historic and contemporary cultural resources and

values. The Advisory Council provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent and serves as a forum for

consultation and deliberation for the community, assuring public input to management decision-making and

helping expand public awareness about the sanctuary and its resources. Regular public meetings are held every two months. For additional information, visit channelislands.noaa.gov and facebook.com/ChannelIslandsNMS