New Threats from the Trump Administration

Big Effort from Surfrider Coming Jan 3

  • Stop Offshore Drilling Canvassing , 2-3:30p, The Hook to Pleasure Point
  • Offshore Drilling Info Session, 5-6:30pm, Traveler Surf Club, Register

Save the Date: Wed Jan 21st Community Forum on Make Polluters Pay and Threats of Offshore Oil Drilling

Draft flyer below:

By Santa Cruz Climate Network, London Nelson Community Center

7pm to 8:30pm PST Tickets Free or donation

12/5/25 New Action Network petition

12/1/25 California’s coastal ‘Blue Wall’ must rise again to stop new offshore drilling.

This article by Katie Thompson and Dan Haifley details ongoing work on fortifying the “Blue Wall,” a network of coastal ordinances that restrict onshore facilities needed for offshore drilling or mining.

New from Justin Cummings – special ocean protection website – now has loads of info and links to offical BOEM site https://www.savemycoast.org/

11/24/25 SAVE OUR SHORES website has complete details on how to resist this plan. SC CAN has sent a letter from our organization. Check this link to see our letter and this easy link to send your own for yourself or any of the groups you belong to. Please try to submit comments BEFORE THE JAN 23 DEADLINE.

Released 11/21/25 – Apparently ignoring the National Marine Sanctuary areas all along the Pacific Coast

12/2/25

From Julie Packard

Details about the threats of DEEP SEA MINING—>

Good News 11/13

The City council agenda for 11/18 includes a motion of opposition to offshore oil drilling and deepsea mining AND allocation of funds. More details below

Another Article on DEEPSEA MINING

Threat Details and responses

  1. Protect Our Coasts From Offshore Oil Drilling – sign the petition
  2. Protect the Davidson Seamount from Deep Sea Mining – see details below
  3. Another petition – from Earth Justice
  4. The Blue Wall – Protection of the Coast by Counties and Cities – see details below
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Join Surfrider in Our Effort to Stop Congress From Selling Off More of Our Ocean for New Offshore Oil & Gas Drilling 

The Trump administration is currently revising the 5-year offshore drilling plan to bring oil rigs to a coastline near you, ignoring overwhelming public opposition. The Department of Interior will soon release its offshore drilling proposal which is expected to target all major U.S. coasts. 

Our Federal leaders must stop new offshore drilling in U.S. waters — please tell Congress to protect our coasts!

Congressional leaders have introduced legislation to permanently ban new offshore oil and gas drilling off the East Coast, West Coast, Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Arctic Ocean. Passing these bills is critical to protecting our marine ecosystems, wildlife, and coastal recreation and tourism across the U.S. petition here .

2. Protect the Davidson Seamount from Deep Sea Mining

This underwater extinct volcano is home to many wonderful special creatures including the dumbo octopus and bubblegum coral. Deep sea mining would threaten these are many other creatures.

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It would also threaten the recently discovered octopus garden where hundreds of female octopi nurture their eggs in warmer water from volcanic vents.

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5min – Excellent details about the Octopus Garden from MBARI

Deep-sea mining risks disrupting the marine food web, study warns

      By  ALEXA ST. JOHN       Updated 2:10 AM PST, November 6, 2025

Drilling for minerals deep in the ocean could have immense consequences for the tiny animals at the core of the vast marine food web — and ultimately affect fisheries and the food we find on our plates, according to a new study.

Deep-sea mining means drilling the seafloor for “polymetallic nodules” loaded with critical minerals including copper, iron, zinc and more. While not yet commercialized, nations are pursuing deep-sea operations amid rising demand for these minerals in electric vehicles and other parts of the energy transition, as well as for technology and military use.The researchers examined water and waste gathered from a deep-sea mining trial in 2022.

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City council agenda item for 11/18/25

Approval of County of Santa Cruz Memorandum of Understanding and Save Our Shores Professional Services Agreement to Coordinate on Strengthening Opposition to Offshore Drilling and Seabed Mining (CM)
LOCATION: Citywide
 Motion to: 1) Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Santa Cruz specifying the City of Santa Cruz’ contribution in the amount of $29,000 and the activities for coordinating funding and administration of the Offshore Oil Coalition Coordination Effort (OOCCE); and 2) Authorize City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Save Our Shores in a form approved by the City Attorney in the amount of $25,000 to update and strengthen the City of Santa Cruz’s ordinances and related policies opposing offshore oil and gas development and onshore facilities for seabed mining, and to coordinate regional collaboration on coastal protection and policy consistency.