Today, October 11, 2024, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries released the final rule to designate Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in central California. Encompassing 4,543 square miles, the sanctuary will protect important ecological habitats such as kelp forests, rocky reefs, and sandy beaches, a seabird hotspot, and significant offshore features including the Rodriguez Seamount, Arguello Canyon, and a portion of Santa Lucia Bank offshore of central California.
This region and its abundant resources have been home to coastal, ocean-going Indigenous Tribes for over ten thousand years. Designating this sanctuary highlights Chumash and other Indigenous cultures and creates opportunities to better understand and protect ancient village sites that may exist along the now-submerged paleoshoreline.
With decades of experience managing sanctuaries in the region (Channel Islands and Monterey Bay national marine sanctuaries and the ONMS West Coast Regional Office), NOAA will bring considerable knowledge about the resources, issues, and communities of the area to our management of this new sanctuary.
The sanctuary designation will take effect following a review by the Governor of California and Congress over 45 days of continuous session of Congress.
To learn more, please visit the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary website and web story.