Marine Sanctuary

The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary covers 4543 square miles of ocean and features a delicate ecosystem with sharks, dolphins, whales, and seals.

For decades, @bluevioletsage and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council have been working to protect wildlife and local communities the off Central Coast of California.

Thank you @NOAA & @sanctuaries for taking an important step towards designating @CHNMSanctuary! pic.twitter.com/nYzvCSBZrg

— Friends of the Earth (Action) (@foe_us) September 10, 2024

The sanctuary is anticipated to bring comprehensive community management to nationally significant natural, historical, archeological, and cultural resources—including kelp forests, rocky reefs, sandy beaches, underwater mountains, and more than 200 shipwrecks.