Building Stronger Connections Across the National Marine Sanctuary System

Friends of Flower Garden Banks joins sanctuary partners in San Francisco

Group photo of FGBNMS representatives (left to right: Taylor Galaviz, Michelle Johnston, Sandra Metoyer, and Sepp Haukebo) outside of the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries headquarters, with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo credit: Michelle Johnston/NOAA.

From September 1–3, representatives from Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and Friends of Flower Garden Banks gathered in San Francisco for Partners in Stewardship: A Sanctuary Summit.

The summit brought together sanctuary staff, advisory council representatives, and friends groups from across the National Marine Sanctuary System to share ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen the partnerships that connect sanctuaries with their communities.

Representing Flower Garden Banks were Michelle Johnston from Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary; Taylor Galaviz from National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, serving as full-time staff with Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary; Sepp Haukebo, chair of the sanctuary's advisory council; and Sandra Metoyer, interim executive director of Friends of Flower Garden Banks.

Learning From Sanctuary Partners

Throughout the summit, participants attended sessions focused on partnerships and collaborations across the sanctuary system. The group had the opportunity to learn about successes and challenges from organizations including the Greater Farallones Association, the Great Lakes, and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

These conversations offered an opportunity to exchange ideas about how sanctuary partners can build stronger connections with the communities they serve and support the conservation, education, and stewardship work happening within each sanctuary.

Time was also dedicated specifically to advisory council coordinators, council chairs, and friends groups, providing space to discuss shared priorities and explore ways to strengthen connections across the sanctuary system.

Sandra Metoyer was part of a panel titled “Championing your sanctuary," with Joel Johnson (National Marine Sanctuary Foundation), Maria Brown (Greater Farallones Association/Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation), and Kainan Miranda (Friends of Pacific Marine Sanctuaries). Photo credit: Taylor Galaviz/NMSF & NOAA FGBNMS

Championing Flower Garden Banks

As part of the summit, Sandra Metoyer participated in a panel titled "Championing Your Sanctuary," alongside Joel Johnson of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Maria Brown of the Greater Farallones Association/Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and Kainan Miranda of Friends of Pacific Marine Sanctuaries.

The panel highlighted the important role that community partners and friends groups play in supporting and championing their local national marine sanctuaries.

Strengthening Stewardship Through Collaboration

Gatherings like the Partners in Stewardship Summit create opportunities for people working across the National Marine Sanctuary System to share experiences, celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and bring new ideas back to their own communities.

For Flower Garden Banks, these connections help strengthen the network of people and organizations working to understand, protect, and champion this remarkable Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.

Friends of Flower Garden Banks is grateful to Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries for hosting the summit, as well as everyone who contributed to planning and facilitating the week's events.

Content for this article was provided by Taylor Galaviz/National Marine Sanctuary Foundation & NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.