Each year on World Oceans Day, people around the world celebrate the ocean and unite to protect our shared ocean treasures. This year, over 100 scientists sent a letter to President Trump and Congress, urging our leaders in Washington, D.C. to prevent the expansion of offshore drilling. Although there is strong and growing opposition from … Read more
June 4, 2010 Ten years ago today, toxic oil began washing ashore in Pensacola, Florida. It was six weeks after the BP’s Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. While the disaster originated off the coast of Louisiana, oil followed ocean currents to Florida, ultimately reaching every Gulf state and coating more than … Read more
On April 20, 2010, BP’s Deepwater Horizon exploratory rig exploded, setting off the largest oil spill in U.S. history. The cause? A high-pressure surge of gas from the exploratory well caused the drill pipe to buckle. Then, the critical device meant to seal off the pipe in case of such a surge — the blowout … Read more
On May 19, 2015, a pipeline located above Highway 101 ruptured near Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara, CA. In total, approximately 120,000 gallons of oil were released along the Santa Barbara coastline, 50,000 of which entered the ocean. Five years later, we remember the impacts felt along a stretch of coastline spanning from Santa … Read more
Every year, thousands of people gather hand-in-hand on beaches to “draw a line in the sand” to protect our coasts from the expansion of offshore drilling. The Hands Across the Sand event highlights coastal communities and their opposition to dirty and dangerous offshore drilling. While we cannot be together in-person this year because of the … Read more
Endangered North Atlantic right whales must navigate through crowded fishing areas filled with ropes and busy commercial shipping lanes as they migrate along the Atlantic Coast every year. This minefield of activity poses a challenge for government officials who need to protect and recover these whales while managing the fishing and shipping industries. This week, Massachusetts announced* that it will extend seasonal restrictions on fishing and boat traffic through May 7th to protect a group of North Atlantic right whales, including … Read more
In a recent blog about the U.S. Department of Interior’s response to the BP Deepwater Horizon tragedy – an explosion that claimed 11 lives and debilitated the Gulf of Mexico region for years – Interior touted their leadership in reforming and improving safety of the offshore drilling industry. If you take a closer look, the … Read more
By Antha Williams, Head of Environmental Programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies; and Andrew Sharpless, CEO at Oceana. As COVID-19 continues its deadly march across the United States, the public and the media are rightly captivated by the pandemic and this administration’s inadequate response. Unfortunately when it comes to President Trump’s environmental assaults, he’s proven he can … Read more
Oceana’s Michael Messmer testified before Congress on Feb. 6 urging lawmakers to ban expanded offshore oil drilling and seismic air gun blasting in their next federal spending bill. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies heard witness testimony from several organizations pushing for greater environmental protections, including Messmer, the Ocean … Read more
South Carolina lawmakers took yet another major step forward in the fight to protect their coast from the Trump administration’s proposal to open nearly all our oceans to offshore drilling. On Jan. 15, a South Carolina Senate subcommittee advanced a bill blocking all infrastructure to facilitate offshore drilling. Introduced by state Sen. Chip Campsen (R-Charleston), … Read more
We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.
Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.
A great way to get involved in protecting #oceans: Join Oceana as a Wavemaker & sound off on important issues! https://bit.ly/30iztqY