The Healthy Ocean Coalition Celebrates a milestone in Chumash Heritage national marine sanctuary designation
On September 6th, NOAA released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. In October, 30 days after the FEIS, the final management plan and regulations will be released. This is the final stage of the designation, with official designation expected in December.
Forty years ago, this community-led effort to protect the sacred natural, historical, archaeological, and cultural resources in the ocean waters of Central California began. The initiative has since been carried by many local community advocates, with the Chumash Nation being among the earliest supporters.
In 2012, concern about Central Coast acoustic testing galvanized a local alliance, with Chief Fred Collins and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) chosen to spearhead the Sanctuary campaign. In 2015, the NCTC, with a broad coalition of local Tribes, leaders, organizations, and businesses, submitted a formal nomination to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.
On August 25, 2023, nearly 10 years later, this multigeneration effort moved forward as NOAA released a proposal to designate the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary as a 5,617-square-mile area offshore of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties in Central California. During a 60-day public comment period that ended October 2023, NOAA received more than 110,000 comments from the public, with over 99% supporting Sanctuary designation.
The Healthy Ocean Coalition celebrates this milestone along the path to designate what will be the first Tribally nominated National Marine Sanctuary in the U.S. and the first new sanctuary to be designated in California in more than 25 years. Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary advances Tribal collaborative co-stewardship – integrating traditional practices and knowledge with federal processes. The Sanctuary will protect both an internationally significant ecological transition zone that is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including many at-risk species, such as snowy plovers, southern sea otters, leatherback sea turtles, black abalone, and blue whales, and ancestral waters of several Tribes from along the Central California Coast.
Our shares their celebratory remarks below:
“I am thrilled to congratulate the Biden-Harris administration and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council on this important milestone for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. This incredible achievement is a testament to your dedication to preserving our natural and cultural heritage. The sanctuary will play a crucial role in protecting marine biodiversity and supporting the resilience of our coastal communities. Thank you for your visionary leadership and for championing the cause of ocean conservation. ”
“When mobilizing communities for ocean action, wins like this new Sanctuary inspire hope and enthusiasm. Violet, PJ, and Mike have done such a wonderful job keeping everyone excited and motivated, and now the work has paid off! Thank you!”
