Notice of Availability of Draft Management Plan and Draft Environmental Assessment for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

The Surfrider Foundation Washington submits comments in support of the Draft Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan, praising its focus on collaborative governance, Tribal co-management, and climate resilience. They offer specific recommendations to strengthen the plan's implementation, particularly regarding organizational capacity, scientific monitoring, and ocean literacy.

The commenter, a volunteer citizen science participant, supports updating the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary management plan to reflect current conditions. They emphasize the importance of marine sanctuaries for biodiversity and advocate for public involvement in the planning process.

The commenter suggests that the agency should implement citizen science monitoring volunteer opportunities to better connect local communities with the sanctuary. They argue that this would foster local awareness and provide a way for the public to physically engage with the sanctuary beyond just voicing concerns.