The proposal to create California’s fifth national marine sanctuary received the California Coastal Commission’s concurrence as the lengthy process to protect the ocean area nears completion.
On Thursday, members of the commission agreed that the proposal from the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is consistent with the state’s coastal zone management laws.
The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would encompass between 4,400 and 7,600 square miles of ocean waters and submerged lands off the coast of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
“I particularly want to point out how important and momentous it is that the first tribal-led designation is taking place in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties,” said Commissioner Meagan Harmon, the local representative on the panel and a Santa Barbara City Council member.
“To me, that’s something that I take great pride in, and we have much to learn from our tribal representatives and neighbors. I’m so grateful for their leadership and for all the work from all the stakeholders that have gone into this,” she added.
The proposed final boundary remains to be decided for a number of reasons, including a planned wind energy project off the coast of Morro Bay.
If the NOAA chooses a smaller boundary, the area could be expanded in the future during the periodic review of management plan.
“This meeting today is a monumental time. We’re on the verge of having generations of community’s hard work becoming reality,” said Violet Sage Walker, chair of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council.
Several people noted that many have awaiting the historic moment.
“This Coastal Commission meeting is a huge milestone in the 10-year-long campaign and 40-plus years of work by our Central Coast community,” said Gianna Patchen from the Sierra Club’s Santa Lucia Chapter.
Representatives of the Santa Barbara-based Environmental Defense Center said the organization supports the protection of the area that serves as essential habitat for many species, including assorted whales, sea otters, turtles and abalone.
“This designation of this sanctuary fulfills a promise of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act by protecting a beautiful unique area of the marine environment with underwater treasures like historical shipwrecks and submerged cultural resources important to the Chumash people,” said Azsha Hudson, EDC’s marine conservation analyst.
Speakers said they welcome the designation since it will prohibit any new offshore oil and gas drilling plus deep sea mining in the area.
If some areas aren’t initially included because of the offshore wind energy proposals, speakers asked for interim protections for the areas and creation of reasonable timelines for the expansion to occur.
The coming months could see other key milestones with the release of the final environmental impact statement tentatively set to be released in September with the final decision, management plan and other details expected in October.
In addition to a decision on the sanctuary’s boundary, the name also remains undecided after a challenge from the Salinan Tribe of Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties and the Xolon Salinan Tribe.
The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is “not only historically inaccurate, but it also continues to perpetuate the false narrative” that the area from the Channel Islands to Monterey County has one tribal culture.
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council contends that a former chief, Fred Collins, first proposed the sanctuary, adding, “The name honors Fred and his vision.”
“It took the vision by a determined few to make this dream come true over so many years and in the face of often waning support and naysayers,” NCTC representatives said. “Fred was not deterred; he stayed true to the end of this journey to protect the homeland and our relatives in the ocean.”