Marin Voice: Offshore drilling plan for California must be rejected

The Trump administration is threatening California’s future by proposing to open the state’s coastline to offshore oil drilling for the first time in more than four decades.

A newly released draft plan would allow up to six lease sales off the California coast, alongside expanded drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. This reckless proposal ignores science, overwhelming public opposition and the urgent need to move away from fossil fuels amid an accelerating climate crisis.

Offshore drilling would threaten the hard-won recovery of humpback and gray whales, as well as elephant and harbor seals — species only now rebounding after decades of exploitation. Increased industrial activity would disrupt migration routes, feeding grounds and breeding behavior, harming not only marine life but also coastal economies and cultural traditions. Whale watching, recreational fishing and sustainable seafood industries depend on healthy oceans, not coastlines dominated by oil platforms, pipelines and tanker traffic.

California understands the dangers of offshore drilling all too well. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill released hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude into the ocean, coating beaches and killing wildlife for miles. That catastrophe helped spark the modern environmental movement and led to foundational marine protections still in place today. Yet history has repeatedly shown that offshore drilling is never risk-free. Pipelines corrode, platforms fail and accidents — both major and minor — cause lasting harm to marine ecosystems. Even so-called “routine” spills accumulate damage over time.

Today, California’s ocean is already under severe strain. Decades of warming waters, overfishing, pollution and habitat loss have left marine ecosystems far less resilient than they once were. Kelp forests have collapsed, key species have declined and food webs have been disrupted. Places like the Farallon Islands, Tomales Bay and Bolinas Lagoon showcase the richness of California’s marine habitats — but also their fragility. Introducing offshore drilling into these stressed systems could push them beyond recovery.

While catastrophic spills capture headlines, the cumulative impacts of drilling are equally destructive. Seismic testing, infrastructure installation, vessel traffic, toxic discharges and the constant risk of leaks all take a toll. Seismic blasting used to locate oil deposits can injure marine mammals and interfere with their ability to communicate and navigate. Recovery, when it occurs at all, is slow and uncertain — especially in a changing climate. California’s coastal waters are already experiencing warming seas, shifting species ranges and collapsing habitats. Offshore drilling would only intensify these pressures.

Drilling also undermines climate responsibility. The science is clear: Avoiding the worst impacts of climate disruption requires rapidly reducing fossil-fuel extraction. Opening new offshore areas locks in decades of carbon emissions at precisely the moment when society must accelerate the transition to renewable energy. Continued dependence on oil worsens air and water pollution, entrenches environmental injustice and delays meaningful climate action that future generations will depend on for survival.

Federal efforts to impose offshore drilling on a coast that has consistently rejected it reflect recklessness, not leadership. California has invested decades in marine protection and climate policy guided by science and precaution. This federal plan would undo long-standing safeguards and reopen waters withdrawn from leasing earlier in 2025. It disregards the voices of coastal communities, Indigenous nations and millions of residents who have made clear that offshore drilling has no place in California’s future.

The consequences of fossil fuel dependence extend far beyond California. U.S. actions in Venezuela — including the apparent illegal and unethical conduct tied to oil interests — highlight how reliance on fossil fuel distorts policy decisions and perpetuates harm at home and abroad. These patterns prioritize corporate profit over human rights, environmental protection and global stability.

The California coast is not a testing ground for outdated energy policies or a bargaining chip in federal politics. It is a living system already under immense stress. It deserves protection, not further exploitation. Offshore drilling would deepen ecological loss, entrench fossil fuel dependence and undermine decades of progress toward ocean recovery and climate resilience.

Between now and Jan. 23, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is accepting public comments on this deeply flawed proposal. The administration must hear — clearly and unequivocally — that this leasing plan is unacceptable.

We must act now to stop it. This is not responsible policy; it is indefensible. Allowing this plan to move forward would demonstrate profound disregard for our oceans, our climate and future generations. To learn how to respond and join this fight, visit Turtle Island Restoration Network’s website at bit.ly/4aXNX1q.

Ken Bouley, of Inverness, is executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network, a nonprofit organization based in Olema.