The kashia band of pomo indians of the stewarts point rancheria will build their capacity to participate in and lead abalone restoration on their ancestral lands

The Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria received a $1,567,798.00 Cooperative Agreement award from the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Habitat Conservation program (CFDA 11.463). The grant will be used to build the Tribe's capacity to participate in and lead abalone restoration efforts on their ancestral lands over a 4-year period from August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2027. Key activities include establishing a tribal breeding program for red abalone, training and employing tribal divers to conduct ecological monitoring, and piloting experimental removals of purple sea urchins to help reduce pressure on bull kelp that provides important habitat for red abalone.

They will take steps toward establishing a tribal breeding program for red abalone and will train and employ tribal divers to conduct ecological monitoring. They will also pilot experimental removals of purple sea urchins to help reduce pressure on bull kelp, which provides important habitat for red abalone.