“The coast is never saved. It’s always being saved.” —Peter Douglas, former Coastal Commission executive director
The evening of Oct. 14, on a dark, bumpy bus ride from Santa Barbara to Sacramento, college students from Allan Hancock College, Cuesta, and Cal Poly were nervous. They were about to give their first public testimony. Riding with them, longtime environmental advocates shared advice and stories.
This contingent of 35 of your neighbors took two days off from work and school and rode for eight hours on a bus with stinky seats and a broken bathroom to defend California’s marine life. Tribal leaders, community members, and college students endured the long haul so they could ask the California Fish and Game Commission to designate the tribally nominated Point Sal and Mishopshno state marine conservation areas.
The proposals were two of many submitted during the first decadal review of California’s marine protected area (MPA) network. The network has more than 100 marine protected areas within state waters, managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Each MPA is selected for its ability to protect specific marine features that support ocean health. Each MPA is unique in size (all are relatively small), with varying levels of protection. Some allow recreational harvest while others prohibit any killing or removal of marine life. All MPAs allow “non-consumptive uses,” like surfing, walking, swimming, boating, and permitted scientific research.
This was the first reopening of the California MPA network for proposed changes. Fishing industry proposals suggested relaxing the regulations, shrinking boundaries, or taking away MPAs. Tribal leaders, environmental organizations, and local community members across the state, including our busload, were asking to expand MPA ocean protections. This October meeting was when the California Fish and Game Commission would have the final vote on the MPA proposals.
The Central Coast portion of California’s MPA network was established almost 20 years ago after long years of convincing opponents that creating reserves for biologically productive and diverse marine ecosystems would allow fish to grow older, bigger, and reproduce more, which would enhance ocean health, biodiversity, and fishing. The fishing industry claimed MPAs would fail and collapse the industry.
The Point Sal and Mishopshno state marine conservation areas proposals were among the first ever tribally nominated MPAs and emphasized tribal co-stewardship. Both proposals prohibit the harvest or damage of “any living, geologic, or cultural marine resource” but still allow hook-and-line fishing from the shore.
The petition to designate the Point Sal State Marine Conservation Area was co-sponsored by the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and Natural Resources Defense Council. It encompasses 9.18 square miles of ocean off of Point Sal, west of Guadalupe and Santa Maria and south of Mussel Point. The region is a migratory whale corridor and ocean nursery, providing key habitat for baby fish to develop before they depart for the big ocean beyond. This is also an important part of protecting Chumash ancestral territory.
The Mishopshno State Marine Conservation Area petition was co-sponsored by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Center. Mishopshno is named after an important Chumash village. The protection extends 9.05 square miles of ocean southwest of Carpinteria. This ecosystem supports a biodiversity hotspot, including a juvenile white shark zone, a rocky reef, and one of the only persistent kelp areas in the region.
‘The coast is never saved. It’s always being saved.’
—Peter Douglas, former Coastal Commission Executive Director
The morning after the bus arrived in Sacramento, more than 50 advocates walked to the Fish and Game Commission hearing. As it began, some students were wondering whether they had enough expertise to give public comment, facing the daunting experience of questioning, “Is my opinion and my story worth sharing?”
With encouragement that their opinions are important, 10 students joined the many tribal leaders and community members to step up to the microphone and share their stories to the full auditorium. And it worked.
Commissioner Erika Zavaleta shared that one of her main motivations for voting yes was that “We can see, we see you. Members of that community need us to hear their collective voice if we’re really committed to justice, equity, and diversity and listening to and meeting their needs as part of strengthening our work. And it is part of strengthening the MPA network.”
Thanks to tribal leadership and abundant community support, the Point Sal and Mishopshno state marine conservation areas achieved designation.
Let’s celebrate the win and then get back to protecting the coast—again and again. ∆
Gianna Patchen is chapter organizer for the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Andrew Christie served as chapter director from 2004 to 2023. Send a letter for publication to letters@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Nov 5-12, 2026.
