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NOS's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Thank Your Mother and Nurture a National Marine Sanctuary Near You

May 09, 2012
image of a boat in a bay

We celebrate our own mothers every year in mid-May, so why not nurture Mother Earth herself this month by participating or volunteering at a national marine sanctuary (NMS) near you?

Public Comment Periods and Meetings

The following sanctuaries have open public comment periods and/or will hold public meetings in May and June.

Florida

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Florida Keys NMS has an open public comment period to guide a review of the sanctuary’s marine zones and regulations, and meetings will be held in June.

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary NMS icon

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Monitor NMS released a draft management plan and draft environmental impact statement for public comment through June 22.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary NMS icon

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Thunder Bay NMS has an open public comment period through May 25 to develop a draft environmental impact statement for possible boundary expansion.

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary NMS icon

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Additionally, Flower Garden Banks NMS released a final management plan on April 27.

Volunteer Opportunities

All national marine sanctuaries welcome volunteers in a variety of capacities. The following sanctuaries offer volunteer training or are seeking advisory council members through June.

Grays Reef NMS icon

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Gray’s Reef NMS seeks applicants for its advisory council through June 29.

Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale NMS icon

Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale NMS seeks applicants for its advisory council through June 30.

Olympic Coast NMS icon

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Olympic Coast NMS will hold volunteer training on May 9, 16, and 23.

Stellwagen Bank NMS icon

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Stellwagen Bank NMS will soon seek applicants for 11 advisory council seats, including a non-voting Youth Alternate seat.

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