#ProtectOurCoast
California’s abundant ocean and
coastal resources are a major
attraction for millions of tourists
every year. Rugged, rocky cliffs, tide
pools, sandy spits of shore with
popular surfing spots, and pristine
state parks dot California’s 3,427
miles of coastline.
Another catastrophic event like the
1969 Santa Barbara blowout or the
2015 Refugio Beach oil spill is too
great a risk to California’s thriving
coastal economies.
TAKE ACTION billion in GDP Generated California’s Marine Economy in 2021 of the state’s marine economy
Employed Tourism and Recreation
Protecting California’s Coast: The Bipartisan Consensus In November 2025, the Department of Interior published
the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) determining where and
when the federal government will sell offshore oil and gas drilling leases for the next five years.
California’s Coast at Risk from Expansion of Offshore Drilling Mapping the Risk: Program Area B
The DPP proposes the inclusion of six new offshore oil and gas lease sales off California’s Northern, Central, and Southern Coast beginning as early as 2027.
The Northern, Central, and Southern California planning areas encompass approximately 146 million acres across
three planning areas. As of September 2025, there are 30 active leases in the Southern California Planning Area
alone, covering more than 150,000 acres.
One new lease is one too many.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). (2025). Figure 5: 1 Proposed Pacific Region Program Areas [Map]. In 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program: 1st Analysis and Proposal
st
A Bad Deal for California
Members of the California Congressional Delegation, encompassing both U.S.
Senators and 28 House members, issued a bicameral letter to oppose the expansion of offshore drilling. The letter stated that California’s economy, environment, and military readiness depend on a clean coastline.
No new leases have been issued in federal waters off California since 1984.
Furthermore, California banned drilling in state waters three decades ago and has a long, bipartisan history opposing expanded offshore drilling.
Join Oceana in calling on
our federal government
leaders to end new leasing
and protect California’s
coastline from offshore
drilling.
California’s coast is a vital training
space essential for U.S. military
operations and developing top defense
technology. New energy infrastructure
would severely harm our national
defense capabilities.
Military Readiness
Auctioning off our coastlines for more oil drilling
doesn’t have an impact on the current U.S. oil market
that determines gas prices around the country.
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