Chumash Tribe: Guardians of California's Coastal Marine Sanctuary
The Chumash tribe in central California has been campaigning for over a decade to create a new marine sanctuary that would protect sacred sites and preserve their cultural heritage. The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary could become the largest in the continental U.S. and one of the first to be spearheaded by a Native American tribe. The tribe is seeking co-management of the sanctuary and wants autonomous decision-making powers. The NOAA is expected to release details on co-management soon, and the tribe is already involved in setting up an ecosystem monitoring program. The sanctuary would protect the area from development and help restore the Chumash people's connection to the coast.