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 will be the first sanctuary to focus on Indigenous culture and history as a primary core value along with protection of ocean habitat. The sanctuary will also protect the region from threats like offshore oil drilling, seabed mining and pollution.

On August 24, 2023, the federal government announced plans to proceed with sanctuary designation and released a draft management plan, proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement for public review. A 60-day public comment period was held for members of the public to provide input to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). While Surfrider was generally pleased with the draft regulations, we are concerned that the agency is proposing to reduce the size of the sanctuary by removing the area from Morro Bay to Cambria from the sanctuary boundaries.

Accordingly, Surfrider actively participated in the 2023 public comment period to advocate for a strong management plan and urge NOAA to adopt the Initial Boundary Alternative, which reflects the original boundaries proposed by the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, the Surfrider San Luis Obispo Chapter and other partners in 2015. Surfrider is also supporting the Gaviota Coast 5B Extension to include the coastal waters off northern Santa Barbara in the final sanctuary boundaries. To read Surfrider's full comment letter click here.

Surfrider also conducted extensive outreach to our members and supporters across the U.S. to urge them to participate in the comment period. This included a national petition signed by 1,699 Surfrider supporters in support of a strong management plan and full boundaries for the sanctuary. Surfrider's efforts complemented the efforts of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and numerous other partners advocating for sanctuary designation. In total, NOAA received comments expressing overwhelming support for sanctuary designation on behalf of thousands of people.

While the official public comment period has ended, Surfrider will continue to urge NOAA to designate Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary with the full boundaries and strong regulatory protections. Through our ongoing engagement with the Biden Administration and our participation in the Federal Marine and Coastal Area-Based Management Advisory Committee, we will push to see sanctuary officially designated by the middle of 2024.