U.S. Designates 3rd Largest National Marine Sanctuary Off California Coast

The Biden-Harris administration has established the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, spanning 4,543 square miles along California’s central coast.

The new sanctuary is the third largest in the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System. It is part of President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative, which aims to protect 30% of the country’s land and water by 2030.

The sanctuary will be co-managed by local tribal and Indigenous communities, including the Chumash, whose heritage is deeply rooted in the area.

The new sanctuary, stretching 116 miles from San Luis Obispo County to the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County, aims to conserve the rich marine biodiversity, including underwater mountains, kelp forests, and over 2,000 shipwrecks.

It is California’s fifth marine sanctuary, dedicated to ecological preservation and Indigenous stewardship.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo discussed the sanctuary’s importance, saying it will provide crucial environmental protections while promoting economic development through tourism and recreation.

NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad discussed the co-management role of tribal and Indigenous communities, which will contribute their knowledge and traditions to sanctuary management.

The sanctuary’s designation is the outcome of a decade of hard work and dedication by community members, Indigenous leaders, and local officials.

Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, expressed pride in the sanctuary’s recognition, adding that it also honours her late father, Chief Fred Collins, who led the sanctuary’s nomination.

While the sanctuary’s boundaries will help with marine conservation, they do not include areas designated for offshore wind energy projects.

NOAA plans to revisit the possibility of expansion after the installation of subsea transmission cables.

The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is an essential step in ocean conservation and Indigenous sovereignty.

Leaders, including California Senator Alex Padilla and Congressman Salud Carbajal, have praised the designation for contributing to clean energy development and biodiversity protection.

The sanctuary is expected to take full effect after a 45-day review period by the U.S. Congress in December 2024.

References: NOAA, Reuters