California has created its first new Marine Protected Areas in more than a decade, safeguarding two coastal biodiversity hotspots, including one of the healthiest kelp forests in the Santa Barbara Channel. The landmark decision was taken by the California Fish and Game Commission and announced by Governor Gavin Newsom, adding around 15,000 acres to the state’s protected network.

It’s a move that brings the proportion of California’s coastal waters under protection to 22.2% – closer to its goal of conserving 30% by 2030. The Commission said it focused on strengthening protections while balancing the needs of the state’s fishing communities.

In an historic first, two of the new areas were proposed by Chumash tribes. Point Sal State Marine Conservation Area and Mishopshno State Marine Conservation Area are the first tribally nominated marine protected areas in California’s network, and will provide new opportunities for collaborative stewardship between state agencies and the Chumash.

The state says this brings it closer to its goal of returning 7.5 million acres of land and coastal waters to tribal stewardship.

The suite of announcements covers four sites in total. Point Sal State Marine Conservation Area is a newly developed Marine Protected Area and now offers protection for important fish, seabirds, and migrating whale habitats along a remote stretch of coast in San Luis Obispo County; Mishopshno State Marine Conservation Area is also new and protects Carpinteria Reef and one of the healthiest and most persistent kelp forests in the Santa Barbara Channel. 

Point Dume State Marine Conservation Area has now been expanded to protect additional kelp forest habitat off Malibu, supporting the resilience of these vulnerable ecosystems in a warming ocean; while the announcement strengthens protections around Pyramid Point State Marine Conservation for its declining fish populations on the North Coast while preserving tribal harvest for culturally important species.

Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, said: “We are heartened and encouraged by the Fish & Game Commission’s decision to approve our petition to create the Mishopshno Marine Protected Area. We are grateful to co-petitioners the Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Defense Center as well as the Ocean Protection Council for their efforts and support throughout this process. This area has important cultural and spiritual values that deserve to be protected for future generations.”

California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said: “This is a landmark moment in our work with tribes to protect the ocean and our coast. Climate change is heating up the ocean and creating dangerous conditions for sea life and our coastal communities. These new protected areas proposed by tribal partners provide important protections at a critical time.”

Governor Newsom framed the announcement as a contrast with federal policy. His office points to the Trump administration’s push to open federal waters off California to new offshore oil and gas leasing for the first time in decades, and to a review of the state’s Coastal Management Program that California has warned could weaken its ability to protect the coast and clear the way for more drilling.

Newsom said: “Our ocean is essential to who we are. It’s part of our DNA as Californians. While Donald Trump attempts to roll back decades of environmental protections and open our shoreline to new oil drilling, we’re protecting more of our coast and ocean than ever before. In partnership with California tribes, we’re safeguarding coastal communities, marine life, and ways of life that depend on a healthy ocean.”

California completed its statewide network of 124 marine protected areas in 2012, stretching from the California-Oregon border to the US-Mexico border. The state says ongoing scientific monitoring has shown the network is working, with protection increasing overall biomass and diversity of marine life. It also says the areas can support coastal communities by boosting tourism and recreation, and can even strengthen catches in fisheries outside the boundaries.

The network is recognised on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List as the global gold standard for marine conservation, making it the first nature network in the world to receive that honour.

The new designations follow a three-year process after the network’s first ten-year management review, completed in 2023. The California Fish and Game Commission, Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ocean Protection Council engaged directly with tribes, local governments, commercial and recreational fishermen, port and harbour communities, environmental organisations, scientists and members of the public to evaluate petitions for change.

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