Proposals from tribal and environmental protection groups to close parts of the waters off Santa Barbara County to boat fishing and other take activities are facing pushback from fishers who say they need those same areas open to support their livelihoods. 

Hundreds of Central Coast residents on Tuesday signed up to speak on proposals for new marine protected areas, known as MPAs, at a State of California Fish and Game Commission at the Hilton Garden Inn in Goleta.

The room was visibly divided. Those in favor of the new protected areas sported blue “Marine Protected Areas for us ALL” shirts, while opponents wore green “Fishing Access IS Equitable Access” shirts. 

California has a system of MPAs that was first created in the early 2010s. Before the commission right now are petitions from area groups to expand that network. 

A map of current MPAs can be seen here; the proposed changes can be seen here.

Among others, two tribal-co-sponsored petitions for new MPAs — one off Carpinteria’s coast in South County, and the other off the coast of Point Sal in North County — are making their way through the review pipeline. 

A 9.18-square-mile protected area proposed near Point Sal would reach 4.03 miles offshore. Its petitioners are the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The proposal would largely prohibit fishing, netting, shellfishing and any removal of resources in the ocean in that area. Shore-based recreational fishing by hook and line would be allowed, as well as take activities during critical Vandenberg Space Force Base missions.

That protected area also would be renamed with a Chumash place name to be determined.

The 9.05-square-mile proposed Mishopshno protected area, off Carpinteria’s coast, would also prohibit the removal of ocean resources in that area approximately 3.6 miles out.

Similarly, recreational finfish fishing using hook and line would be allowed from the shore.

A tribal take exemption would be given for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.  

The Mishopshno proposal comes from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the NRDC and the Environmental Defense Center. 

The commission didn’t make any decisions this week, but instead allowed the community to offer feedback.

Staff also reminded the public that both the Point Sal and Mishopshno petitions still must be reviewed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Tribal representatives and other environmental advocates said the ocean and its resources must be protected, and introducing the new protected areas is the way to do that. 

Adding the Point Sal and Mishopshno protected areas would also strengthen the larger, already-existing MPA network, according to NRDC Director Sandy Alesworth.

Scientific research would still be allowed in those areas, she clarified.

Veronica Mendoza, the director of narrative and strategy for the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, said she supports the Point Sal petition.

“Abundance is never created by taking everything. It is created by relationship, by reciprocity, by understanding that if the ocean is feeding you, your family, your body, your spirit, you have a responsibility to feed it back,” she said. “To protect what protects you. Knowing when to take and knowing what not to take.” 

She said she “does not sit here against fishing families,” but as someone “who knows exactly what it costs when that relationship (with the ocean) is broken.”

The Point Sal petition has the support of the City of Guadalupe as well as several elected officials, such as State Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón and Assemblymen Gregg Hart and Steve Bennett.

Given the area’s proximity to Vandenberg Space Force Base, the U.S. Department of Air Force also has looked over and shown support for the proposal, petitioners said.

Guadalupe Mayor Ariston Julian, who has been on the council since the 1980s, said the Point Sal protected area would increase the fish count and help Guadalupe’s on-shore fishing community. 

“Guadalupe’s beach in that area is known for substituting (residents’) food intake for fish and also for recreation,” he said. 

Toni Cordero — a retired environmental and civil rights attorney who is an enrolled member of the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation — said she supports the Mishopshno petition.

She also urged the commission to ensure that non-federally recognized tribes are included in the Mishopshno tribal take exemption. 

“The governor has made a commitment to try to include native people, the indigenous people of California, more in the decision-making that relates to their homelands,” Cordero said. “It’s very important that that continue through these MPAs.”

According to petitioners, the Mishopshno proposal is also supported by Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Roy Lee, a former Carpinteria City Council member.

Representative Daisy Weber said Lee supports an “equitable and tribal managed MPA.”

“Supervisor Lee recognizes that our current marine protected area network plays a critical point in keeping our waters healthy for wildlife, ocean lovers, and neighbors whose livelihood depends on fishing and recreational activities,” Weber said.

Recreational and small commercial fishers on Tuesday argued that prohibiting boat fishing and other take activities in those areas would be devastating to their livelihoods. 

Eric Rodriguez, captain of the fishing vessel Patriot, said the proposed Point Sal protected area would “disrupt the balance.”

He said he doesn’t overfish in that area and he understands “how sacred it is.” 

“The ocean has saved my life,” he said. “It’s given me an opportunity to save lives of others.” 

Carpinteria resident Jaime Diamond owns and operates Stardust Sportfishing out of
Santa Barbara with her family.

She said the fishing area off Carpinteria is incredibly important.

“Our kids and our local community, who do rely on this as a food source, will lose that access. It’s not something that will be regained going somewhere else,” Diamond said. 

Several members of Diamond’s family spoke, including 8-year-old Max.

He urged the commission to deny the Mishopshno proposal.

“It’s in my backyard. Please don’t kick us out,” he said.

Michael Nelson, harbor commissioner and chair of the commercial fisheries workgroup, said the Harbor Commission recommends that the Mishopshno petition be deferred until further analysis can be done.

He said there needs to be “meaningful” consultation with local fishers, as well as socio-economic analysis and assessments on income loss.

“(The Santa Barbara-area port) fleet supports 500 jobs,” he said. “This proposed expansion threatens some of our most important fisheries.” 

The Fish and Game Commission is set to discuss the feedback received at its regional meetings in June before offering its recommendations. 

Updates to the MPAs and commission agendas can be seen here.