They’re not just fighting for the ocean. They’re fighting for their future.
For the fourth year in a row, a group of Laguna Beach youth called the “Aquagroms” raised money to support marine conservation efforts, this year fundraising $18,000 to support the Surfrider Foundation’s fight against new offshore drilling. You can donate to the fundraiser here.
The group's namesake “groms,” a term used to describe a young, water-obsessed surfer, reflects their love and passion for being in the ocean. Whether it is surfing, bodyboarding, snorkeling, or swimming, these kids grew up in the ocean, know its value, and want to do what they can to protect it.
The Aquagroms selected offshore drilling as their cause, as it is the largest, most imminent threat to California’s coastline. New offshore drilling leases would lock the state into decades of pollution, inevitable oil spills, all while threatening our coastal recreation, tourism, and fishing industries that generate billions of dollars for the U.S. economy.
Tell Congress to Protect our Coasts from Offshore Drilling!
To raise awareness for the fundraiser and its cause, the Aquagroms swim, climb, and walk a 3.5-mile stretch of Laguna’s coast, from Crescent Bay to Victoria Beach. The City of Laguna Beach’s lifeguards support the event each year, providing a boat escort to ensure the youth’s safety.
The Aquagroms leveled up this year by coming onshore at Main Beach Park for a visual demonstration of the community’s opposition to new offshore drilling. Local leaders including City of Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill, Orange County Supervisor Foley, and Aquagrom founder Alia Marriner spoke at the event. Then, the ‘Groms, local leaders, and community members stood hand in hand, drawing a visual line in the sand against new offshore drilling, which threatens the very coast that makes Laguna Beach special.
Tell Congress to Protect our Coasts from Offshore Drilling!
The Federal Threat
The Federal Administration’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is currently undergoing the 5-year offshore oil and gas leasing process. This means they are determining how much of our federal waters to sell off to the oil and gas industry and when. The latest draft included the entire coastline of California, which hasn’t seen new leases since the ‘80s. Email your Federal Representative and tell them to stop this dangerous plan!
State Policy Solution
California has an opportunity to defend itself from the Federal plan through the State Legislature. State law already exists that prohibits new infrastructure from being built to transport oil and gas onshore. However, the loophole of using existing infrastructure remains. AB 1448 (Hart) aims to close that loophole, offering California protection from the threat of new leases. Email your State Representatives and tell them to vote YES on AB 1448.