California Tribes Shape Coastal Protection for First Time

For the first time since California created its network of underwater parks in 1999, Indigenous tribes are leading the conversation about protecting the state's 840-mile coastline.

This fall, California's Fish and Game Commission will vote on five tribal petitions requesting changes to the state's 125 marine protected areas. The requests range from protecting culturally important fish species to establishing new protected zones around heritage sites.

The shift is historic. When California passed the Marine Life Protection Act a quarter century ago, tribes weren't included as formal stakeholders, even though Indigenous communities have stewarded these coastal waters for thousands of years.

Now, through a 2023 petition process, tribes are proposing specific protections based on traditional knowledge and cultural needs. The Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation, for example, has asked that true smelt fishing near the Oregon border be limited to tribal harvest only, as the species has declined in recent years.

"Traditional harvest has so much more behind it," said Rachel McCain, Natural Resource Department director for the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation. "It's tied to culture and life ways and existence and identity."

Three petitions propose creating entirely new marine protected areas, while two request tribal harvest exemptions for specific species. State agencies are split on some recommendations, but both generally support the tribal fishing exemption requests.

Commission President Eric Sklar said he expects fellow commissioners to give serious weight to tribal concerns. The vote marks a new era of government to government consultation between California and its Indigenous nations on ocean management.

The Ripple Effect

The tribal petitions come at a crucial time. Data shows California's marine parks are working to boost biodiversity and climate resilience after more than a decade of protection. Adding Indigenous knowledge to the mix could make the network even stronger.

Beyond policy, the petitions represent a correction of a 25-year oversight. Indigenous Californians who have fished, gathered, and protected these waters since long before the state existed are finally being recognized as essential partners in conservation.

The Ocean Protection Council has recommended approving all but one tribal proposal, noting that the requests reflect the best available science for making marine parks more resilient to climate change. The council specifically highlighted protections for vulnerable habitats like persistent kelp forests.

Whatever the commission decides, the conversation itself signals progress. California is learning that the newest ideas for protecting the ocean might come from its oldest stewards.