Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Community Profile, 2010-2021

This sanctuary community profile provides cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic information for the communities surrounding the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS). Data for 2010–2021 were sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the World Bank, and other federal and state agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency. Socioeconomic characterization of the sanctuary community is essential for systematic planning and sanctuary management.

If designated, CHNMS would protect an area of approximately 5,620 square miles along and offshore of the central California coastline, with Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to the north and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to the southeast (Office of National Marine Sanctuaries [ONMS], 2023a). The sanctuary community includes the two primary counties of San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County. Local resource managers, Indigenous peoples, businesses, institutions, and other local partners would benefit from the proposed CHNMS. Ecosystem service benefits associated with the designation of CHNMS include fishing, commercial, cultural, and recreational activities.

Key Words

Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, culture, economics, ecosystem services, community engagement, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, California, tourism, demographics, population, labor, employment