Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council would like to announce the opening of four seats on the Council: Research Primary, Research Alternate, Marin County Community at Large Alternate, Sonoma County Community at Large Primary. An ideal candidate for these seats would reside in a community near the Sanctuary, is well-known and well-connected in the fields of marine research, education, and conservation, has experience or knowledge regarding marine resource protection issues in the Sanctuary, experience or knowledge regarding public use and activities in the Sanctuary, and has the freedom to express views and cast votes without consideration of any expectations held by an employer or other organization with which the member is affiliated. The open application period for these seats closes January 30, 2008

At the September 19th Cordell Bank Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting, a resolution was unanimously passed by the Council to encourage the inclusion of the unique submarine feature - Bodega Canyon - within the boundaries of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Expansion of the Sanctuary's boundary is being addressed in the current National Marine Sanctuary Boundary Expansion Bill, drafted by Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey. To view the Advisory Council resolution regarding this, please download the following pdf file (16k): Sanctuary Boundary Expansion Modification resolution 2007

On September 26th, 2006 the Cordell Bank Sanctuary Advisory Council passed a resolution in support of reinstating the Leatherback Turtle Conservation Zone. Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary waters fall within the Leatherback Conservation Zone, which established in 2001 has successfully reduced observed leatherback interactions with the drift gillnet fishery to zero.

Please click here for a copy of the resolution (16KB PDF);
and click here for a copy of the Conservation Zone boundary. (100KB PDF)

Please click on this link to download Todd Steiner's Drift Gill Net presentation. (2.7MB PDF)

New Resolution Adopted by the Council

On January 26th, 2006 the Cordell Bank Sanctuary Advisory Council passed a resolution in opposition of oil and gas exploration in National Marine Sanctuary waters. This is the fourth such resolution passed by West Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Councils in 2005/2006. The Olympic Coast, Channel Islands, Monterey Bay and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Councils have drafted other resolutions. Click here: Cordell Bank SAC resolution. (12KB PDF)

At the January 26th SAC meeting, Richard Charter, member of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, presented on the Federal Energy Bill and a history of oil and gas exploration on the West Coast. This power point presentation may be downloaded here. (648KB PDF)

For the 2005 Cordell Bank Sanctuary Advisory Council Annual Report, click here for 2005 Annual Report. (24KB PDF)