MBNMS Conservation Working Group (CWG)

The CWG is one of the four working groups of the Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC). The CWG's Mission is to help promote and achieve comprehensive and long-lasting stewardship of the Sanctuary through continued oversight and advocacy. CWG members work to ensure that the Sanctuary is not neglected or exposed to new threats.

Monterey Bay Sanctuary Conservation Working Group will:

Serve as a forum and clearinghouse for identification, exchange, and discussion of information on current and emerging environmental issues, as well as Sanctuary-specific resource protection and management issues;
Provide advice and factual information on resource protection, Sanctuary management, and other conservation issues in response to requests from Sanctuary staff, the SAC and associated working groups;
Identify resource protection and management needs and make recommendations on priorities, strategies, and policies to Sanctuary staff, the SAC and associated working groups;
Promote communication and coordination among conservation organizations and other non-governmental organizations, user groups, Sanctuary staff, the SAC and other Sanctuary-related working groups, and other appropriate parties.

Membership

The CWG is Co-Chaired by the two Conservation Representatives on the SAC. CWG members include those who represent conservation organizations or conservation interests within the Sanctuary, and are committed to contributing work products and participation at CWG meetings. Representatives of elected officials typically participate as non-voting members of the CWG.

All meetings are open to the public.

History

The Conservation Working Group was created in 1989 by Save Our Shores (SOS) and the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) to focus the knowledge and talent of local, regional, and national conservation groups on the designation process for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. From 1989-1993, this ad-hoc committee (orignially known as the Monterey Sanctuary Environmental Working Group) coordinated the flow of Sanctuary related information, collaborated on public outreach materials, and provided critical feedback to decision makers on resource protection and other priorities for the Sanctuary. The group was instrumental in helping to achieve the designation of the Sanctuary in 1992 as the largest marine protected area in the country.

In April 1994, the MBNMS management created the MBNMS Advisory Council. This was done utilizing recent amendments to the National Marine Sanctuaries and Reserves Act that exempted the Marine Sanctuary program from the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The SAC is composed of individuals representing various public interests; one of these interests is conservation. Under authority of the National Marine Sanctuaries and Reserves Act, the SAC may form and utilize Working Groups to help it accomplish its tasks. In May 1994, the CWG was taken under the purview of the SAC as a Working Group.

More Information:

For more information, contact:

Karen Grimmer
Resource Protection Coordinator
99 Pacific Street, Bldg. 455
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 647-4201
Fax: (831) 647-4250
email: karen.grimmer@noaa.gov