Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden-Harris administration moved closer to designating the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary with the release of a final environmental impact statement. The new sanctuary along 116 miles of the central California coast aims to protect this ecosystem from offshore oil expansion, acoustic testing, and other threats while generating an estimated $23 million in economic activity and 600 new jobs for the local community.
Angelo Villagomez, senior fellow for Conservation Policy at the Center for American Progress, stated: "This sanctuary honors the rich cultural heritage of the Chumash people and underscores a commitment to protecting our precious ocean resources for future generations. This is also an important step toward conserving 30 percent of the ocean in the United States. This is a moment of healing for our planet, but also for Indigenous communities around the world who have shown their support for this effort."
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected]
