[ECO]Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary to be Managed by Indigenous Nations

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A historic partnership between federal agencies and Indigenous tribes establishes Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, protecting 4,500 square miles of ocean.

The Biden-Harris administration announced the creation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the California coast, establishing the first partnership between federal marine sanctuary officials and Indigenous tribes in United States history. The 4,500-square-mile protected area will preserve crucial marine habitats while honoring tribal heritage and maintaining sustainable commercial activities.

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, situated between the Monterey Bay and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuaries, will protect 13 whale species, multiple dolphin species, sea otters, and numerous seabird species from oil extraction and ocean mining. This California marine sanctuary, developed with significant input from Indigenous tribes, will remain open for fishing, recreation, tourism, and research activities.

NOAA’s comprehensive protection strategy for Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary includes regular marine mammal surveys, water quality monitoring, and advanced seafloor mapping. Enforcement measures will combine satellite surveillance, coast guard patrols, and a network of automated monitoring buoys. The sanctuary will also implement strict vessel speed limits during whale migration seasons and establish designated shipping lanes to reduce marine mammal collisions.

Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, celebrated the announcement as the culmination of decades of advocacy by California Indigenous tribes. “The significance of our collective effort will make history, begin to heal centuries of wounds to our People, and bring all of us closer together,” Walker said. The initiative builds upon work started by her father, the late Chief Fred Collins, who initially petitioned the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create the protected area in 2015.

Under the management plan, NOAA will partner with Chumash Tribes in a co-stewardship arrangement that sets new standards for California marine sanctuary governance. Tribal representatives will participate in a 15-person advisory council and contribute traditional ecological knowledge to sanctuary management. Their involvement will include collaboration on outreach and education efforts, resource sharing, and guidance on cultural and wildlife matters.

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At 4,500-square-miles, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is one of the largest on the West coast. Map courtesy

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The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary joins a network of 15 national marine sanctuaries covering over 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters. While smaller than the 6,094-square-mile Monterey Bay sanctuary to its north, it surpasses the nearby 1,470-square-mile Channel Islands sanctuary in size. Unlike marine monuments, which typically prohibit most commercial activities, sanctuaries like Chumash Heritage balance conservation with sustainable use, an approach that has proven successful in areas like Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, where coral restoration programs coexist with regulated tourism and fishing.

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The final boundaries of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary represent a compromise between conservation goals and renewable energy development. Federal officials excluded a significant northern section from the original proposal to accommodate California’s offshore wind industry. This modification maintains a corridor for transmission lines connecting to the Morro Bay power plant. NOAA may consider expanding the sanctuary northward by January 2032, after wind energy infrastructure is established.

The designation process now enters a 45-day review ******* by Congress and California Governor Gavin Newsom. NOAA expects to complete the sanctuary’s establishment by the end of 2024, likely making it one of President Biden’s final conservation achievements before leaving office.

The sanctuary’s creation advances multiple administration priorities, including the America the Beautiful initiative, which aims to protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. It also fulfills commitments outlined in Secretarial Order 3403, which mandates federal collaboration with tribes on land and water preservation decisions.

Beyond ecological preservation, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary will protect approximately 200 ship and aircraft wrecks on the ocean floor, preserving the region’s maritime history. This designation represents the first new federal marine sanctuary created specifically for conservation purposes since the Clinton administration established the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in 1994.

The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary received broad support from California political leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who advocated for the designation during her Senate tenure. Senator Alex Padilla praised the announcement as “a hard-fought victory for the Chumash people, our conservation priorities, and the responsible development of offshore wind as California strives to meet its ambitious clean energy goals.”

Local environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club’s Santa Lucia Chapter, welcomed the news. Chapter coordinator Gianna Patchen emphasized the sanctuary’s role in preserving the Central California Coast’s “rich cultural, environmental, and biodiversity legacy” for future generations.

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