The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is taking initial steps toward designating a new national marine sanctuary of the Central California coast.
NOAA is seeking public comment about possible designation of the 7,000 square mile area marine sanctuary adjacent to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, according to news release issued by NOAA.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo
| commerce.gov/
The news release comes months after President Joe Biden's Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, signed in January. The order directs NOAA and other federal agencies "to take a holistic approach" in "curbing and building resilience to climate change and its impacts," the news release said.
That directive includes conserving and restoring ocean and coastal habitats, supporting tribally and locally led stewardship, and advancing offshore wind and other clean energy projects. The sanctuary designation and wind energy development in the area, such as that proposed in the Morro Bay 399 Area, demonstrates the Biden Administration’s commitments to those goals, according to the news release.
"This Administration is committed to taking a holistic approach to addressing the climate crisis," U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo said in the news release. "Together, the Department of Commerce, through NOAA, and the Department of Interior, along with many partners, are increasing resilience by conserving and restoring the natural and cultural resources that benefit our country and our planet; working to reduce emissions by fostering clean energy like offshore wind; and supporting frontline communities by helping them build back smarter and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Proposals like the Chumash Heritage sanctuary and Morro Bay 399 Area are great examples of how we can advance these goals in conjunction with each other."
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council in 2015 nominated the proposed marine sanctuary area as a way to preserve and recognize tribal history, safeguard marine resources and open the area up for research and economic growth.
Creation of the marine sanctuary would be permitted under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, legislation that seeks to protect the nation's marine ecosystems and indigenous heritage.
The marine sanctuary designation is "championed with broad community support" for the area considered an "internationally significant ecological transition zone," The news release said. Cooler, nutrient-rich temperate waters from the north meet warmer subtropical waters to create a home in the area for marine mammals, invertebrates, sea birds and fish.
"It includes kelp forests, vast sandy beaches and coastal dunes, as well as wetlands," the news release said. "These ecosystems serve as nurseries for numerous commercially and recreationally fished species, and critical habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife such as blue whales, the southern sea otter, black abalone, snowy plovers and leatherback sea turtles."
NOAA has documented more than 200 shipwrecks in the proposed marine sanctuary area, including two shipwrecks listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
