Oct. 12, 2005 –– It's not too late to sign up for the 24th International Submerged Lands Management Conference to be held next week at the Westin Resort and Villas on St. John.
"If you care about our submerged lands," Jamal Nielsen, Planning and Natural Resources spokesman, said in response to a question about why people should attend.
The event starts Sunday with registration and a welcome reception at the Battery.
The actual conference runs Monday through Friday morning.
The registration runs $135 for local and other Caribbean residents and $425 for those from out of the region.
Nielsen said so far, 150 people have signed up. The conference has room for 200 people.
Participants can register until the conference begins.
The objective of the conference is to increase awareness of submerged lands management issues in the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, and the world.
Presentations focus on tools, strategies, case studies, and lessons learned.
The topics include artificial reefs, beach management/public access, pollution impacts, and the territory's Coastal Zone Management program, among the many issues to be addressed in the week-long event.
The conference is open to anyone interested in submerged lands issues.
It is sponsored by DPNR, its CZM Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For more information, call Gregory Richards at Planning. The number 773-1082, extension 2216. The Web site is www.islc2005.org.