The sustainable use of our ocean is the lifeblood of coastal communities—supporting tourism, fisheries and recreation while protecting extraordinary marine wildlife. Offshore oil drilling in sensitive coastal waters puts coastal economies, jobs and animals at unnecessary risk.

That’s why we’re speaking out against the federal Administration’s draft proposed plan to open nearly all U.S. ocean waters, including six areas in California, to oil and gas drilling. And we need you to join us.

“The President’s offshore oil and gas plan is an outrage—a huge step backward,” says Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard. “Our remarkable ocean ecosystems, and all of us who depend on them, deserve better.”

The governors of almost every U.S. coastal state have expressed opposition or concern about oil and gas drilling off their state’s shores.

The Administration is taking public comments on the offshore oil drilling plan through March 9. We urge you to speak out to protect coastal waters. Your voice matters!

Click here to add your comment to the Federal Register. Consider using our suggested talking points below.

(Be sure to replace the text in brackets with your hometown; it also helps to add some personal thoughts about how offshore oil drilling could affect you.)

IF YOU LIVE IN A COASTAL STATE:

I live in [City, State] , and I urge you not to open any new areas to oil or gas drilling off our coasts.

, and I urge you not to open any new areas to oil or gas drilling off our coasts. The 2019-2024 Draft Proposed Program exposes coastal regions in my state, and in states around the U.S., to the threat of devastating oil spills. Oil spills are disastrous not just for ocean wildlife, but for communities like mine that rely on revenue from coastal tourism, fishing and recreation.

We have seen the catastrophic impact offshore oil and gas disasters can have on coastal areas in the Gulf of Mexico and other parts of the U.S. I am not willing to accept this risk for my state.

IF YOU LIVE IN AN INLAND STATE:

I live in [City, State] , and I love to travel to the beach for my vacation. I urge you not to open any new areas to oil or gas drilling off U.S. coasts.

, and I love to travel to the beach for my vacation. I urge you not to open any new areas to oil or gas drilling off U.S. coasts. The 2019-2024 Draft Proposed Program exposes coastal regions around the U.S. to the threat of devastating oil spills. Oil spills are disastrous not just for ocean wildlife, but for coastal communities that rely on revenue from tourism, fishing, and recreation. They also impact millions of visitors, like me, who vacation on the coast.

We have seen the catastrophic impact offshore oil and gas disasters can have on coastal areas in the Gulf of Mexico and other parts of the U.S. I am not willing to accept this risk for my country.

The risks of the Administration’s offshore oil drilling plan are simply too great. Potential impacts of an oil spill are both immediate—killing and injuring countless fish, birds and marine mammals—and long-lasting. Ecosystems contaminated by oil may take decades to recover.

Burning oil, coal and natural gas contributes to the emission of heat-trapping gases, which cause global temperatures to rise, seawater to warm and the ocean’s chemistry to change. It’s time to move away from our reliance on fossil-fuels and embrace an innovative, clean-energy future.

“We’ll win this fight,” Julie says. “California has a diverse and thriving coastal economy because the benefits of a beautiful and healthy coastline far outweigh the risks of offshore oil development. We’re also leading the way to a clean-energy future. That’s where progress and prosperity lie.”

Learn more about conservation and science at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.