The Metals Company (TMC), a local British Columbia company, plans to mine polymetallic nodules from the seabed floor. Unfortunately, their plans for […]
Public comment on the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary ended this week. But the biggest question remains about this proposed sanctuary that would provide protection for coastal waters from our Monterey Bay sanctuary down to the Channel Islands.
"Should Morro Bay be included, or as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposes, should waters offshore from this San Luis Obispo County area be removed from the sanctuary?" the Editorial Board writes. "NOAA’s reasoning is that plans for a large offshore wind energy project would be derailed if the Morro Bay coastline (including Morro Rock) is included. But, considering that this sanctuary is intended to protect sites sacred to the Chumash Tribe, exempting Morro Bay from the proposed sanctuary is unacceptable."
The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary could create a new model for Native co-management of public lands. But the sanctuary faces headwinds with a last-minute boundary change to accommodate a wind farm.