January 6, 2022 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in the process of considering designation of a new national marine sanctuary in the Hudson Canyon area off the coast of New York and New Jersey. The Hudson Canyon is the largest submarine canyon along the U.S. Atlantic coast and is one of the largest in the world. The area is also one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s most important commercial and recreational fishing grounds.
NOAA is establishing an advisory council for the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary and is seeking applicants for advisory council seats. The advisory council will bring members of the local community together to provide advice to NOAA and help guide the designation of the sanctuary.
Voting Seats
The proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will include 15 voting members and 15 alternates. NOAA is seeking applicants to represent the following voting seats:
- Commercial Fishing (2 seats)
- Recreational Fishing (2 seats)
- Tourism/Recreation (1 seat)
- Conservation (2 seats)
- Science/Research (1 seat)
- Business and Economic Development (1 seat)
- Marine Industry (2 seats)
- Education/Outreach (2 seats)
- Citizen At-Large (2 seats)
Non Voting Seats
The following government agencies have been invited to participate on the Sanctuary Advisory Council and may appoint a non-voting member and an alternate to the council:
- NOAA Fisheries
- New England Fishery Management Council
- Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
- South-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Department of Interior/Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
- U.S. Department of Navy
- State of New York
- State of New Jersey
- State of Rhode Island
Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2023. Visit NOAA’s Hudson Canyon Sanctuary Advisory Council page for details and application instructions.