The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) and Morro Bay Offshore Wind Leaseholders have announced joint support of a phased approach to the designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (NOAA ONMS).

The parties recommend that upon initial designation the northern boundary of the CHNMS be located south of Diablo Canyon, and north of Port San Luis and Avila Beach. This will allow for the co-existence of the marine sanctuary, as well as the responsible development of offshore wind.

The parties request that NOAA ONMS adopt a phased approach to the sanctuary designation in conjunction with regulatory clarifications.

All parties have agreed that, following the initial designation, and at an appropriate time, the NCTC and leaseholders will jointly support expansion of the boundary of the CHNMS to connect to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

“At this crucial time, we must prioritize conservation efforts and take concrete steps to secure the CHNMS,” said Violet Sage Walker, chair of the NCTC. “Our collective participation in this work over the years should inspire us to push forward with even greater determination.

“If we work collaboratively and cooperatively to address climate change, we can overcome any obstacles in our way. Failure to do so will result in losses for all of us. Let’s move forward confidently and make a positive impact together.”

The designation of the CHNMS will provide immediate protection to thousands of acres of sea space, the NCTC said.

The future expansion would result in contiguous sanctuary protection of the ocean from Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary to Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and further protect Chumash villages that lay on submerged lands, as well as habitat for endangered marine life, among other culturally important resources.

“We are proud to join the Central Coast offshore wind leaseholders and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council on a letter supporting the designation of the proposed NOAA Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary,” said Martin Goff, head of operations for Equinor’s Atlas Wind.

“The sanctuary designation, in conjunction with regulatory clarity, will further support the coexistence of responsible offshore wind development alongside marine conservation in and around the Central Coast,” he said. “This clearly demonstrates that Tribal communities and industry can come together with dual goals to support climate action and conservation, benefiting California’s just energy transition.”

“Together with the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, and our fellow Central Coast Offshore Wind leaseholders, we are honored to have reached a mutually agreed-upon proposal for designation of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary and its future expansion,” said Erin Lieberman, executive vice president, Environmental Compliance and Strategy, Invenergy.

“Today, during Earth Month, we are celebrating a shared solution to support ocean conservation, and Even Keel Wind looks forward to realizing the many economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind along the Central Coast,” Lieberman said.