CalOceans News

Protecting the ocean and traditional tribal uses

California’s Marine Life Protection Act is well-known for its visionary leadership on ocean conservation.  Last week the State advanced this leadership – taking action to incorporate respect for tribal traditional ocean uses as part of its ocean conservation efforts. Everyone, state officials and stakeholders alike, has expressed an interest in ensuring that traditional tribal uses of California’s marine resources—and the tribes’ stewardship practices--are incorporated into networks of underwater parks along the coast. Last week California turned that from a promise into a reality in Sonoma County.

In a precedent-setting victory, both for the tribes and ocean conservation, the Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to ensure continuation of Kashia Pomo traditional tribal harvest at Stewart’s Point. Stewart’s Point lies smack in the heart of a Sonoma County marine protected area created during the North Central Coast regional marine protected area planning process last year. Conservation organizations and tribal leaders had worked together on the proposal adopted by the Commission.

Archeological evidence indicates the tribe has used Stewart’s Point for 12,000 years to collect mussels, abalone, seaweed and fish, and hold ceremonies.  The Commission’s decision ensures those traditional practices can continue while still protecting sensitive plants and marine wildlife  in the surrounding area. 

This welcome announcement follows closely on the heels of newly-appointed Natural Resources Secretary John Laird’s commitment to working with tribes and tribal communities. In his first month on the job, Laird has already sat down with a number of tribes and more meetings are planned to ensure their interests are considered as the state moves towards the completion of the MLPA process.

"I believe they are listening and I believe they are hearing us," said Thomas O'Rourke, chair of the Yurok Tribe. "Bottom line, we all want the same thing, and that's to protect our resources. We understand each other there."

Kudos to Laird for his leadership in directing the FGC to prioritize the issue of tribal rights (you can read about how state officials are approaching the matter in the North Coast here). This is strong evidence that stewardship for our environmental and cultural resources go hand-in-hand.

• Tags:
• Marine Life Protection Act
• mlpa
• marine protected area
• mpa
• stewart's point
• kashia pomo
• tribal harvest