It’s not often that conservation flying takes us exploring above our deep blue oceans, but through the years, we have taken some flight missions to protect our precious seas. The perspective of flying between the wild blue skies and those expansive oceans can be revealing in many ways. The waters whirl with aquatic life and spur our passion for preserving marine ecosystems that support such rich wildlife and human communities.
We have flown in Baja counting gray whales and in the Sea of Cortez to highlight and protect the vanishing Vaquita porpoise, the most endangered marine mammal in existence. We have assisted in scientific research on whale sharks in Belize (sharks with a five-foot-wide gaping mouth!), and have tracked endangered manatees, threatened by increased development and human disturbances like boating near their nesting habitat. Through the years, these flights have been critical to help preserve marine habitat.
Our mission this time brought us to a very unique landscape to fly in advocacy for an important designation that will protect critical marine habitat along the Central Coast of California in perpetuity.
The bountiful ocean, a nearby fertile coastal range, and a place of abundant life and enormous history – this is the home of the Chumash People. The Chumash Tribal Council called upon us to provide overflights to press and council members to amplify the almost certain designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS), the first Tribal-led marine sanctuary protection ever.
The CHNMS will, as the Northern Tribal Chumash Council says, “preserve our unique and irreplaceable coastal ecosystems and safeguard thousands of years of Chumash cultural heritage by protecting sacred sites. The CHNMS also aims to put an end to threats of offshore oil expansion, acoustic testing, and toxic waste dumping while providing funding for much-needed local marine research.”
Chumash means ‘bead maker’ or ‘seashell people’. The Chumash Tribe is indigenous to the region surrounding the Santa Barbara Channel, the northern Channel Islands, and adjacent waters. The Chumash and their culture co-evolved with the marine ecosystems and abundant resources of the coast, including redwood trees from which they constructed some of the finest boats. The Tribe continues to be intimately shaped by their marine connection.
From the abundance of natural resources on this California coastline, it seems the Chumash People picked the perfect place to reside. To see in person, from the air, the sparkling ocean waves breaking on the shore and the endless white sand dunes backed up to verdant hills, is to realize just how special this place is.
As so often happens in our line of work, the challenges of aviation are sometimes the order of the day at EcoFlight. And on these coastal flights, the challenge was the ubiquitous fog. Arriving at the aerodrome early, you could not make out the tower 100 feet away. However, once the fog lifted, patience and perseverance lent itself to two magnificent flying days.
Soaring low across beaches and huge spectacular dunes, we were able to bring together electeds, Chumash elders, and media. The conversations in the cockpit were enriched by the detailed knowledge and commentary from Indigenous leaders on board who spoke of the fascinating history of the region.
These flights and the creation of the marine sanctuary will help to address our global biodiversity crisis and inspire collaborative solutions between all levels of government and California Native American Tribes.
Best,
Bruce Gordon
