Audubon California celebrates the advancement of the historic Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary towards designation today with the release of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Audubon California has strongly supported the designation and the efforts of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) to protect this crucial area of Central California coastline, with Audubon members sending 18,757 comments letters to NOAA last year in support of this designation.
“We are thrilled to see this tribally-led and community-driven effort move forward,” said Liliana Griego, Senior Coastal Program Manager at Audubon California. “The Central Coast provides essential habitat for both migratory and resident birds and we are excited to be one step closer to having this critical area designated and protected for generations to come.”
The years-long campaign entered its final phase today as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its final EIS, and designation is anticipated by the end of the year. Once established, the Sanctuary will be the first Tribally-nominated National Marine Sanctuary in the US and the first new sanctuary to be designated in California in more than 25 years.
“Marine protected areas are an essential tool in protecting seabirds and shorebirds,” said Bethany Kraft, Senior Director of Coastal and Marine Resilience at the National Audubon Society. “Audubon is proud to support Indigenous-led marine conservation throughout the hemisphere and we look forward to seeing opportunities for the leadership of Central Coast Indigenous Peoples in the management plan.”
Situated between Monterey Bay and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuaries along California’s Central Coast, the more than 4,500 square miles would protect an internationally significant ecological transition zone for seabirds, fish, and marine mammals. The richly diverse area supports Snowy Plovers, Brown Pelicans, and significant populations of Brant's Cormorants and Pink-footed Shearwaters. Sooty Shearwaters gather in the hundreds of thousands, relying on the open waters of the proposed sanctuary for food to make their annual migrations that span up to 40,000 miles.
“Morro Coast Audubon Society has supported the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary from the inception of the proposal up to this new milestone, the release of the final EIS,” said Dave Tyra, conservation chair for Morro Coast Audubon Society. “We are pleased to see this commitment to the diversity of central California wildlife and the goal to conserve 30% of our lands by 2030 (30x30), and look forward to the completion of this process in 2024.”
Audubon California thanks the Biden-Harrison Administration for prioritizing the protection of culturally and environmentally significant public lands. The organization urges them to continue this important progress towards the administration’s 30x30 conservation goals by also designating the Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California.
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The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive.
Learn more about Audubon California at www.ca.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonCA.
