Why I support the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary 

We are at a crossroads regarding the responsible protection off our oceans of the world. In a word: Our oceans are in danger of dying in the not too distant future unless we take mitigating actions. We as a coastal community can do our part by supporting the establishment of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary proposed off our Central Coast waters. We are graced with some of the most beautiful shorelines in the world. The past few months we have been watching a breathtaking display of whales, dolphins, aquatic birds, and other marine life. We need to take action to preserve this for future generations.

National marine sanctuaries are not only good for the environment, but they stimulate the economy. Restaurants, hotels, aquariums, boat tours, kayak operators, sport fishing, surfing, and other forms of aquatic tourist activities all benefit from a clean and healthy ocean. It is estimated that the national marine sanctuaries in the U.S.A. generate $4 billion annually. Marine sanctuaries are designed to protect over-fishing, and there are ongoing studies that indicate that depleted fish populations have increased in protected areas. It is imperative that we act now. There are already pressures to open our coast for offshore oil and gas development. Look no further south than Santa Barbara to see the potential for negative impacts from damaged pipelines.

In the profound words of Walt Whitman: “After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, love, and so on—have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear—what remains? Nature remains.”

If you would like more information, go to chumashsanctuary.com. The time is now.

-- Frank DePasquale - Cambria

-- Frank DePasquale - Cambria