Chumash National Marine Sanctuary

NOAA designated this area as a national marine sanctuary to: (1) manage and protect nationally-significant natural resources, physical features and habitats, and cultural and historical resources through a regulatory and nonregulatory framework; (2) document, characterize, monitor, study, and conserve these resources; (3) provide interpretation of their natural, cultural, historical, and educational value to the public; (4) promote public stewardship and responsible use of these resources for various purposes to the extent compatible with the sanctuary's principal goal of resource protection; (5) develop a coordinated, community-based, ecosystem-based management regime with partner Federal agencies, State and local governments, the federally recognized Tribe, and other Indigenous organizations; and (6) develop and carry out an innovative collaborative management structure to involve Indigenous communities, including federally recognized Tribes, other Indigenous groups and organizations, and individuals and communities with knowledge of Indigenous culture, history, and environment, in important management programs and initiatives of the sanctuary.

Species of Concern: multiple

Restrictions

1. The following activities are prohibited within Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary:
a. New offshore oil and gas exploration, development, and production (with exceptions for activities at pre-existing leases)
b. Unauthorized take or possession of marine mammals, sea turtles, or birds
c. Disturbing sanctuary submerged lands (exceptions include anchoring, lawful fishing, harbor channel maintenance, and repair of docks, piers, jetties, and breakwaters)
d. Discharges or deposits into the sanctuary (with several exceptions for normal clean boating operations)
e. Cruise ship effluent and waste discharges
f. Disturbing, moving, or removing historical resources (exceptions for accidental disturbance from lawful fishing)
g. Attracting a white shark
h. Deserting a vessel
i. Introducing or releasing into the sanctuary an introduced (non-native) species (except striped bass (Morone saxatilis) during catch and release fishing)
j. Disturbing, moving, removing, or possessing resources from Rodriguez Seamount (below 1,500 feet, except per lawful fishing)
k. Interfering with an enforcement investigation or action

2. The following activities are subject to regulation, including prohibition, as may be necessary to ensure the protection and effective management of the ecological, cultural, historical, conservation, recreational, scientific, educational, or aesthetic resources or qualities of the area:
a. Exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals (e.g., clay, stone, sand, metalliferous ores, gravel, non-metalliferous ores, or any other solid material or other physical matter of commercial value) within the Sanctuary;
b. Discharging or depositing, from within or into the boundary of the Sanctuary, or from beyond the boundary of the Sanctuary, any material or other matter;
c. Taking, removing, moving, catching, collecting, harvesting, feeding, injuring, destroying, attracting, possessing, or causing the loss of, or attempting to take, remove, move, catch, collect, harvest, feed, injure, destroy, attract, or cause the loss of, a marine mammal, sea turtle, bird, historical resource, or other Sanctuary resource;
d. Drilling into, dredging, or otherwise altering the submerged lands of the Sanctuary; or constructing, placing, or abandoning any structure, material, or other matter on or in the submerged lands of the Sanctuary;
e. Flying a motorized aircraft above the Sanctuary;
f. Operating a vessel (i.e., water craft of any description) within the Sanctuary;
g. Aquaculture or kelp harvesting within the Sanctuary;
h. Introducing or otherwise releasing from within or into the Sanctuary an introduced species; and,
i. Interfering with, obstructing, delaying, or preventing an investigation, search, seizure, or disposition of seized property in connection with enforcement of the NMSA or any regulation or permit issued under the NMSA.