A short film and campaign supporting FishOn’s efforts to implement the new marine protected area off Carpinteria, California — the Mishopshno State Marine Conservation Area.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Our oceans are overfished, overpolluted, and overheated, but marine policy advocate Anupa Asokan knows that strict “conservation” isn’t the answer to protecting California’s coastline.
Instead, she’s finding middle ground.
Through her nonprofit FishOn, Asokan advocates to increase California’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) while ensuring that Indigenous tribes and local fishing communities can maintain their cultural and economic livelihoods via low-impact recreational fishing.
However, commercial fisheries insist on continuing business as usual. As they embark on smear campaigns with California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, Asokan will have to change many minds to ensure the MPA designation of Mishopshno State Marine Conservation Area by 2026.
Will her allies in the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Environmental Defense Center be enough to convince California decision-makers to protect the biodiverse coasts?
ABOUT FISHON
FishOn is a non-profit that works in driving policy initiatives for marine conservation mainly in California and across the US.
PARTNERS
Environmental Impact
Habitat
The area's biodiverse habitats — kelp forests, rocky reefs, sandy bottom and an adjacent salt marsh—make it an ideal candidate for protection.
Research shows Carpinteria’s coastal waters are a frequent hotspot for juvenile white sharks, who regulate marine populations and boost marine biodiversity.
White Shark Hotspot
Designation of the proposed SMCA would add a Tribal MPA to the region, strengthening the role of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in co-management, monitoring, and marine education activities.
Tribal Co-management
Collective Goal
Decision makers and stakeholders often sideline protecting the oceans for profit. FishOn encourages everyone to be a steward of the sea by highlighting the importance of marine biodiversity, California-Chumash co-management SMCA, and small-scale fishing to educate and inspire the public to pressure stakeholders to designate Mishopshno State Marine Protected Area.
“I want to show what voices have historically led ocean management, and the real opportunities that there could be just in creating space for everyone to have a say.”
- Anupa Asoka, Founder of FishOn
FUEL THE FIGHT FOR OUR OCEANS. THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW.
We’re crowdfunding a bold, unapologetic film that dives straight into the frontline to protect marine life and coastal communities.
Your donation or sponsorship powers the production of raw storytelling to raises awareness, push the boundaries of change, and support FishOn, a small nonprofit with a big mission: protecting global fisheries.
This film can open doors for FishOn to scale for similar, urgently needed initiatives.
