The U.S. gets a new national marine sanctuary, the first led by a tribe

The U.S. gets a new national marine sanctuary, the first led by a tribe toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images More than 4,500 square miles of ocean will soon be protected by the federal government off the Central California coast. Going forward, the new Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary will be managed in partnership with tribes and Indigenous groups in the area, who will advise the federal government. Sponsor Message “We’re still here, and so are the Indigenous people wherever you live,” says Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, who led the campaign for the sanctuary. “The historic designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary comes not a moment too soon,” says Congressman Salud Carbajal, who represents the area. “Dealing with renewable green energy is not always easy.” Developing Indigenous co-management NOAA says it plans to manage the new Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary with input from the tribes and Indigenous groups in the area.