Marine Sanctuary panel sets fall meetings

The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Management advisory council meets from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Neah Bay Marina meeting room in Neah Bay.

The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Management advisory council meets from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Neah Bay Marina meeting room in Neah Bay. Advisory council meetings are open to the public and invite public comment.

At the meeting, OCNMS staff will present draft management plan strategies for sanctuary operations and provide an update on collaborative and coordinated management discussions.

The management plan review working group chairmen will give progress reports. An agenda is at Web site http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/AboutUs/sac/sac_meetschedule.html.

The advisory council plans three day-long workshops where regional experts will provide advice on the management plan review process. All three are open to the public. Details are at http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/protection/mpr/mpr_prioritytopics.html.

_ Thursday, Oct. 22 – "Socioeconomic Values of Resources in the Sanctuary Workshop," Pope Marine Center, Port Townsend.

_ Wednesday, Oct. 28 – "Ocean Literacy Workshop," Olympic Natural Resources Center, Forks.

_ Wednesday, Nov. 18 – "Maritime Heritage Workshop," Makah Cultural and Research Center, Neah Bay.

Other upcoming working group meetings include:

_ Oct. 8 – Living Resource Conservation – Habitat sub-group

_ Oct. 26 – Living Resource Conservation – Wildlife Disturbance sub-group

For more information, e-mail ocnmsmanagementplan@noaa.gov or call 457-6622 ext. 28.