Designate the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

In 2015, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council along with Surfrider’s San Luis Obispo Chapter, the Sierra Club and other partners nominated the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary to become a national marine sanctuary. The area proposed stretches from Santa Rosa Creek in Cambria to the Gaviota Creek in Santa Barbara, protecting marine habitat along some 140 miles of coastline. This would be the first sanctuary to focus on indigenous culture and history as a primary core value along with protection of ocean habitat. 

In November, 2021, NOAA announced a Notice of Intent to proceed with a sanctuary designation in the region. The agency invited the public to provide input on the concept and received overwhelming support for the proposal. The agency is currently preparing a draft environmental impact statement which is expected to be released for public comment in early 2023.

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to show support for designating the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary! For more information on the review process for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, go to https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/chumash-heritage/.

Sample Talking Points for Written or Verbal Comments

• As a Surfrider member and/ or coastal recreation user, I strongly support the designation of a new National Marine Sanctuary off the central California coast.
• This designation should be named the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in recognition of the history and culture of the Chumash people.
• The size, location and other features of the sanctuary should be consistent with the official proposal submitted to NOAA by the Northern Chumash Tribal Council in 2015.
• Sanctuary designation will empower the Chumash Nation and local communities to work with federal and state partners to protect this vital stretch of coastal and marine waters.
• The designation will also stimulate marine research, education, stewardship, recreation and tourism. 
• The proposed Chumash Heritage NMS is essential for the protection of the heritage of the Chumash, an ocean-going band among the First People of the Pacific Coast, and submerged Chumash Sacred sites ranging from villages to solstice alignments.