The Ocean Community vs. Offshore Oil

Guest Contribution from Fifer Garbesi, Co-Founder, Future Forum

The Monterey Bay is under threat. Our ocean, which supports one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth as well as $3.3 billion in tourism and a $42 million fishing industry, is about to be sold to oil and mining companies.

In November of last year, the Trump administration announced plans to sell seven offshore oil and deep sea mining leases, including two adjacent to the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. The Davidson Sea Mount off the coast of Monterey is a target for deep sea mining because of its lithium deposits. While less is known of the threats of deep sea mining, it would fill the water column with heavy metals, harming sea life.

Two hundred and thirty miles south in Santa Barbara, the future threats we are facing are playing out in real time. A corroded pipeline that caused the Refugio oil spill 11 years ago was just reopened under the Defense Production Act, even though the issues that created the oil spill in the first place have not been fixed. Chunks of oil are floating in the tidal zone along Santa Barbara beaches.

Simultaneously to the pipeline’s reopening, the Trump administration is attempting to take away the California Coastal Commission’s ability to protect our coast. And if the Hunt Amendment passes in the Senate, the federal government would be able to seize land on behalf of oil companies.

This is the time to mobilize. A coalition of nonprofits—including Earthjustice, NRDC, Oceana, Environmental Defense Center, the Center for Biological Diversity, Save Our Shores, and others—has come together. They are working on new state policies like AB 1448 to block expansion of offshore drilling and restrict the restart of idled oil pipelines, as well as filing lawsuits and pushing for regulation. However, we know that state law and regulation are being blatantly disregarded. The voice of the people is needed to turn the tide.

There are many opportunities to be involved. On August 13, the California Coastal Commission will meet in Santa Cruz, and your voice is needed to support them to veto offshore fracking. On September 26, Californians along the coast will stand together during Hands Across the Sands.  Feeling too busy to show up? There are a couple of quick petitions you can sign. The most important thing you can do is talk about this with your friends and family.

This is all of our beautiful ocean.  Visit Future Forum to take action.