The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) formed a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) in the spring of 2000 to advise and support the research program of the sanctuary. The RAC is a subcommittee of the Sanctuary Advisory Council and holds meetings in conjunction with the latter since all RAC members are also SAC members.

The Research Chair of the Advisory Committee, Dr. Terrie Klinger, chairs the RAC meetings. The OCNMS Research Coordinator, Ed Bowlby, is the primary OCNMS staff on the committee and will provide background information on research priorities, past and current research, coordination with other research entities, and needed enhancements to the research program

The RAC undertakes several responsibilities, including:

1. Provide advice on research priorities that are related to the management of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary;
2. Promote, encourage, and review research projects in the Sanctuary;
3. Provide scientific advice and objective information to the Sanctuary management and SAC;
4. Assist in coordinating the Olympic Coast research workshops;
5. Assist Sanctuary management with the organization and dissemination of information on research and resource monitoring activities within the Sanctuary.

Previous RAC chairperson, Dr. Carl Schoch, with advice and input from sanctuary staff, formed a broader group of advisors who have specific scientific expertise, as a Research Working Group (RWG). This group, separate from the Advisory Council, does not hold meetings and will communicate chiefly by email and telephone conferencing on specific needs, i.e. scientific advice on technical topics. The RWG consists of 20 some people and is listed below. A RWG email list will be maintained and interested individuals can ask to be placed on the list in order to follow topics being discussed by this group.