Overview

East Coast communities strongly oppose offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration, including seismic airgun blasting—an extremely loud and dangerous process used to search for oil and gas deposits deep below the ocean’s surface—because these activities threaten their economic well-being and quality of life. Along the Atlantic coast, communities rely on healthy ocean ecosystems to support jobs in fishing, recreation and tourism.

More than 380 municipalities and over 2,300 elected local, state and federal officials have formally opposed offshore oil and gas drilling and seismic airgun blasting, including more than 285 along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. All the Governors along the East and West coasts - Republicans and Democrats alike - have expressed concerns with and/or opposition to expanded oil and gas exploration, development, and production off their coasts, including the Governors of Washington, Oregon, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Along the Atlantic Coast, numerous fishing and tourism interests, including local chambers of commerce, tourism and restaurant associations, and an alliance representing over 46,000 businesses and 500,000 fishing families from Florida to Maine, also strongly oppose oil exploration and/or development off the East Coast.

Additionally, the Pacific, North Pacific, New England, South Atlantic, and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils have all expressed concerns about the risks posed by seismic surveys and oil and gas development to managed resources, fisheries and coastal communities in the Atlantic. Finally, NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Florida Defense Support Task Force have all expressed concerns about expanded offshore oil and gas development threatening their ability to perform critical activities.



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Where the movement began: Kure Beach, North Carolina, a picturesque tourist destination known for its small town atmosphere and the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic coast, was ground zero in the fight against offshore oil exploration in the Atlantic Ocean. This tiny spit of sand that 2,000 people call home sparked a movement that has spread like wildfire up and down the East Coast. On January 27, 2014, more than 300 residents showed up to protest the mayor's position on seismic airgun blasting. Check out the video of the meeting, and read more on our blog.

Ever since that fateful night in January, opposition to seismic airgun blasting and Atlantic drilling has been mounting. Members of Congress and East Coast Governors need to hear from the people who will be most affected by seismic blasting and offshore drilling -- and that's where you come in. We have some great momentum, but we're only going to #StopTheDrill if more of us take up the call, and urge our elected officials to #ProtectOurCoast. Check out all the opposition to offshore oil and gas exploration and development, spread the word and join the movement!

Additional Resources

Email us at act@oceana.org to join our pod of Wavemakers who want to get involved at the local level. The campaign organizer in your region will contact you about next steps.

Join the #ProtectOurCoast movement!

East Coast opposition

Municipalities and Counties

Business Interests

Multi-state

Delaware

Florida

Maryland

New Jersey

North Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

The Port Wentworth Chamber of Commerce: formally opposed offshore drilling activities upon becoming the first Georgia business chamber to join the Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast in October 2018 (offshore drilling).

Virginia

Fishing Groups

Elected Officials and Key Stakeholders

Multi-state

Connecticut

Connecticut Delegation: Both senators Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Murphy, as well as five CT Members of Congress, signed a joint letter to Ryan Zinke to express their strong opposition to the 2019-2024 Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2/21/2018 (offshore drilling)

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Maryland

North Carolina

New Jersey

New York

Rhode Island

Town of Jamestown: Sent letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Governor Gina Raimondo, and the 39 cities and towns of Rhode Island in opposition of the proposed inclusion of the North Atlantic Region in the 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program in recognition of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill's eighth anniversary 4/20/2018 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)

South Carolina

Virginia

Scientists and advocacy groups

Military Stakeholders and NASA

Congressional Letters

Editorials

Pacific

For information on West Coast opposition to offshore drilling activities, please visit: usa.oceana.org/pacific-drilling

Atlantic Drilling Media Briefer - November 3, 2016

Seismic Airgun Blasting Media Briefer - November 30, 2018