Civil war erupts as Indigenous tribe moves to ban fishing in coastal California enclave

A bitter battle is brewing along California’s Central Coast as an Indigenous tribe pushes to create a protected ocean zone that could sharply limit fishing — sparking fears among local fishermen that their livelihoods are on the line.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has filed a proposal to create a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) stretching from Morro Rock to the local dog beach near Morro Bay.

The proposal was among 20 Marine Protected Area petitions submitted to the California Fish and Game Commission in 2023, alongside dozens of other requested rule changes.

The original petition would have allowed some recreational fishing, but that changed earlier this year when the tribe requested an amendment that would reserve fishing access only for Chumash members.

“The original petition proposed the allowance of recreational take of finfish and invertebrates except mussels and scallops,” Claire Waggoner, a manager with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Region Habitat Conservation Program, told KSBY News. “So it would’ve still continued to allow some recreational take.”

Waggoner told KSBY that an amendment submitted by the tribe in April changed the proposal by limiting fishing activities inside the protected area to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

The possible restrictions have triggered backlash from fishing families who say the move could devastate a community built around the ocean.

“It’s our livelihood,” Lori French, the wife of a Morro Bay fisherman, told the outlet. “It’s his identity. It’s not like you just go to work and shut the job off.”

French said the proposed protected zone covers waters used to fish Dungeness crab, rock crab, halibut and salmon.

She claimed local fishermen have struggled to get their concerns heard during the approval process and warned that the economic consequences could ripple through the entire area.

“The fishermen are involved, trying to get the word out,” French told KSBY. “In the whole MPA process, we have been, I would say, ignored… For the fishermen, it would have a devastating economic impact and for the town, for Morro Bay, I think it would be pretty severe also.”

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said its review process considers several factors, including whether a proposal meets the goals of the Marine Life Protection Act, fits into California’s existing network of protected waters, and whether it involves tribal participation.

Waggoner told KSBY that the agency’s review does not determine whether the proposal will ultimately pass.

“It’s beyond our evaluation,” Waggoner said. “The commission has a lot of things that they can factor into their decision.”

The Chumash tribe defended the proposal, saying the goal is to preserve culturally significant waters and protect marine ecosystems.

Tribal Chairman Kenneth Khan told KSBY in a statement that the tribe wants to work with the state to protect important coastal areas.

“Our goal, as the only federally recognized Chumash tribe in the nation, is to help protect the biodiversity and cultural resources in the waters along the central coast through co-management with the state,” Khan told KSBY. “We filed the Chitqawi MPA petition in 2023 to protect the northernmost coastal Chumash village site that is culturally and historically important to the tribe.”

Khan said the tribe has since asked officials to consider changes that would allow some recreational activities while maintaining protections for the area.

“We recently asked the California Fish and Game Commission to consider adjusting the petition so that it would accommodate some recreational users while still being considered sufficiently protective to qualify as an MPA,” Khan told KSBY. “This is an ongoing process, and our hope is to find a way to ensure these waters remain protected into the future.”

The Fish and Game Commission is expected to release a recommendation before its August meeting, but a final decision is not expected until October.

Even if approved, the new restrictions would not happen overnight. Officials estimate implementation could take two to five years because the proposal would still need environmental reviews, including analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act, along with additional public input.