On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the Central Coast community gathered in Pismo Beach to witness the official designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.
The newly established sanctuary is not only a tribute to indigenous heritage but also is a significant step toward completing the broader effort to protect California’s coastline—from the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to Point Arena, north of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the Bay Area.
The first-ever indigenous-nominated marine sanctuary
The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, now the third-largest in the U.S. and the first-ever nominated by an indigenous group, stretches 4,543 square miles off of California’s coast from Gaviota to southern San Luis Obispo County. It protects 116 miles of coastline, home to rich biodiversity, vital cultural resources and sacred Chumash heritage.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially announced the designation last week, initiating a 45-day period on the congressional calendar before taking effect. During this time, California Gov. Gavin Newsom retains the authority to veto the designation, though officials do not expect him to exercise that power.
After a required review by the State of California, the sanctuary’s designation will be finalized by December 2024, offering protection from future offshore oil drilling along with other environmental threats.
Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Chumash leaders and members of the Biden-Harris Administration were joined by local residents and environmental advocates in celebrating this historic moment.
The event opened with a blessing from the Chumash Intertribal Singers, invoking the Creator to protect the ocean and the life it sustains.
“Great Creator, we are here today to honor the ocean, the animals and the plants that need it to survive,” the Chumash Intertribal singers sang. “The ocean is a part of who we are, Creator, and helps us to take care of it as our ancestors taught us…ho.”
The crowd responded to the blessings, as different leaders from NOAA, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation and others spoke about their efforts and the successes that brought this moment to fruition.
Newsom’s administration has been actively involved in the designation process, with the sanctuary’s support for both Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative and Newsom’s 30×30 target—aiming to conserve 30% of America’s land and waters by 2030.
Carbajal, who championed this project since his election in 2017, emphasized the collaborative effort behind it.
“If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together,” Carbajal said.
Cultural and spiritual significance
Carbajal acknowledged the many figures who played a role in this milestone, from local officials to environmental advocates, and most importantly, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, who submitted the application for the sanctuary in 2015.
Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, paid tribute to her father, Fred Collins, who worked for two decades to bring this vision to life.
“What a gift today has been,” Walker said. “We are protecting our sacred places, our culture and our animal relatives. Today marks the first ocean protection in nearly 30 years of national marine sanctuaries, and the first-ever led by a tribe, but it won’t be the last.”
Walker spoke of future aspirations to connect this sanctuary to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, uniting protections along the Central Coast’s marine ecosystems.
“We want to know the stories… places like the Lisamu’ or Morro Rock,” Walker said. “We want to know that our people will always be here, we will always be watching and we will be waiting for the day that the sanctuary is whole again.”
Long-term collaboration for success
The significance of the sanctuary extends beyond cultural preservation and fosters academic partnerships, according to Paul Michel, regional policy coordinator for NOAA.
A new outpost on Cal Poly’s campus partnered with the Marine Science Department to involve students in studying the marine ecosystem and offer internships in conservation and marine management.
The long-term success of the sanctuary will depend on continued collaboration among indigenous leaders, NOAA, environmental organizations and academic institutions.
Despite some concerns from tribes about NOAA’s consultation process, speakers at the event applauded the nearly 100,000 public comments made by those who agree this is a critical step forward in safeguarding the ocean, a central practice to the Chumash people for millennia.
“This sanctuary is good for the environment, good for biodiversity and good for protecting our coastline from future oil drilling,” Carbajal said.
Now with federal recognition and protection, the North Chumash Tribal Council and associated organizations will continue to lead in ensuring the health and vitality of the ocean for future generations, Carbajal said.