Collaborating with Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

Thank you for your interest in Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. As a newly designated sanctuary, our primary focus is currently building a robust foundation for our research and monitoring program that supports a multi-knowledge-based and holistic approach. This approach honors the co-stewardship commitment made in the development of the sanctuary.

We are a small, dedicated team. To ensure we can engage meaningfully with partners, we ask that you review the following guidelines before reaching out.

Our Current Priorities

We are prioritizing projects that align directly with our foundational research goals and long-term conservation science program infrastructure. To ensure a proposal aligns with our current management plans and goals, please contact us at the earliest conceptual stage of your project. Through intentional relationship building, we are co-developing priorities with Indigenous governments and the greater sanctuary community.

Partnership Guidelines

  • Indigenous Partnerships and Collaborations: If you are interested in collaborating with an Indigenous government, Tribal organization, or nonprofit, please refer to our Indigenous heritage page, which includes links to websites to facilitate direct communications.
  • Strategic Alignment: Before reaching out, please review our management plan to understand our current goals and priorities.
  • Advance Notice: We value early engagement. If you are considering a project within Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, please reach out as early as possible. This ensures we have the necessary time to discuss logistics and expectations, and conduct internal reviews and resource assessments. Please consider reaching out to Indigenous governments and community members, such as the fishing community, to foster a reciprocal exchange of perspectives and ideas.
  • Letters of Support: If you are seeking a letter of support for a grant or project, please submit your request at least one month (30 days) in advance. If you request through holidays or busy seasons, please take into consideration additional time that may be needed.
  • Flexibility and Commitments: As we are establishing our foundation, our capacity to commit staff time or resources may change. We ask for your patience if we are unable to fulfill specific requests or commitments at this time.

How to Reach Out

If your project aligns with our current mission, please send a brief introductory email to:

Permitting

Research activities may require a permit from the sanctuary. Please visit the permit webpage for more information on our permits, and the regulations webpage to learn about the types of activities that might require a permit.

To inquire about permits, please contact Resource Protection and Permit Specialist Kirsten White via email at kirsten.white@noaa.gov and cc chnms.permit@noaa.gov, or via phone at (805) 203-6128‬.