Your support is needed for the Chumash Marine Sanctuary

Forty years ago, a community-led effort to protect the sacred natural, historical, archaeological, and cultural resources in ocean waters of Central California began. In 2015, a broad coalition of local leaders, organizations, and businesses, led by the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC), submitted a formal nomination to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. On August 25, 2023, nearly 10 years later, this multigeneration effort moved one step closer to becoming a reality as NOAA released a proposal to designate a 5,617-square-mile area offshore of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties in Central California as the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. 
 
The release of this proposal opened the final and defining public comment period for the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary nomination. NOAA is now asking for input from all stakeholders on the draft documents for the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.  Please go to the Sanctuary’s web site where you can find a link to submit a public comment in support of establishment of the Sanctuary.  The deadline to do so is October 25, so please take action now.