The Threat: A Statewide Risk to California’s Coastline

The 2025 Five-Year OCS Leasing Program

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released a Request for Information for the 2025 Five-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program—the blueprint that will determine where new offshore drilling could occur from 2025 through 2030.

In a major policy departure, BOEM has included all 27 federal planning areas—even those long protected by law, moratoria, or presidential withdrawal—such as waters adjacent to the Monterey Bay, Channel Islands, and Farallon Islands National Marine Sanctuaries. While no specific lease sites have been proposed, this inclusion signals a potential rollback of decades of bipartisan coastal protection.

California communities fought for years to secure these safeguards, recognizing that offshore drilling poses unacceptable risks to the state’s natural heritage, public health, and economy. Across the coast—from Mendocino’s headlands to the Santa Barbara Channel and Orange County’s wetlands—residents, scientists, and local governments are united in opposition.

What’s at Risk

California’s Marine Sanctuaries and Ecosystems

California’s coast hosts five federally protected marine sanctuaries—Greater Farallones, Cordell Bank, Monterey Bay, Channel Islands, and the Olympic Coast region near the northern border. These areas encompass rich biodiversity and critical ecosystems essential for climate stability. From Big Sur’s kelp forests to Point Conception’s coral and sponge gardens, these waters support carbon sequestration, fisheries, and marine migration.

Oil exploration, seismic testing, or drilling could disrupt these fragile systems, while even a small spill could cause irreversible damage. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill remains one of the nation’s worst environmental disasters—a stark reminder of how quickly decades of progress can be undone.

Endangered and Iconic Species

California’s coastal waters sustain more than 30 species of marine mammals and hundreds of fish and bird species. California sea otters, blue and humpback whales, and leatherback sea turtles depend on these ecosystems for survival. Industrial noise, drilling, and tanker traffic threaten these species through acoustic disturbance, pollution, and habitat disruption.

Coastal Economies and Communities

California’s ocean-based economy—including tourism, recreation, and fisheries—generates tens of billions of dollars annually and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs statewide. Communities from Eureka to San Diego depend on clean, healthy waters to sustain livelihoods and attract visitors.

An offshore spill, pipeline rupture, or even the perception of risk could devastate local economies, small businesses, and California’s global reputation as an environmental leader.

Why It Matters

“Offshore drilling risks catastrophic oil spills, endangers local economies, and undermines California’s leadership in climate action.”

California has charted a bold path toward a carbon-free energy future. Expanding offshore oil and gas development runs counter to those goals, locking in decades of fossil fuel dependency while the state invests in renewable energy innovation.

Protecting our coast is not only an environmental imperative—it’s a matter of economic resilience, public safety, and climate justice. The legacy of California’s coastline belongs to future generations—and it must remain off-limits to offshore drilling forever.