On a beautiful Sunday morning, surfers, scientists, ocean lovers, students, and concerned community members from across Southern California joined at Refugio State Beach for the Paddle Out To Protect Our Coast. The event called for no new offshore oil drilling in our precious waters. Even when the parking lot filled up, people walked in from outside the park to show their opposition to this harmful practice that has historically decimated California’s coast.
The event raised public awareness and engagement on issues related to the threat of new offshore oil drilling in the Santa Barbara Channel and beyond. The event also recognized 11 years since the Plains All-American oil pipeline spill at Refugio. Sable Offshore Corp. bought the corroded oil pipeline, offshore platforms, and associated infrastructure after the spill. On March 13, the Trump administration invoked the Cold War–era Defense Production Act, directing Sable Offshore to restore operations. Lawsuits were filed, and the issue is currently in the courts as oil flows through the pipeline.
Additionally, the Trump administration is officially pursuing an unprecedented and dangerous leasing plan that will open vast stretches of U.S. coastlines up to new offshore oil and gas drilling, with the Santa Barbara Channel as a main target. While the Department of the Interior’s initial public comment period on the draft proposal ended in January, an updated plan is expected any day with a final decision on the offshore drilling plan to be made later in 2026. The current draft plan proposes drilling in 1.27 billion acres of U.S. federal waters. We must continue to urge our federal leaders to stop this dangerous proposal from being enacted. Congress is our last line of defense to protect our coasts from new oil and gas development! Click here to take action.
1977 World Champion and Surfrider's first ambassador, Shaun Tomson, spoke for those in attendance.
We also talked about AB 1448, proposed legislation to strengthen California’s protections against the expansion of offshore oil and gas drilling by: 1) prohibiting the use of existing infrastructure to support new federal offshore leases; 2) requiring the State Lands Commission to weigh additional environmental and safety factors before renewing leases or approving transfers; and 3) closing a gap in the state’s ban on offshore oil drilling in state waters. Click here to send a message to your California legislators asking them to protect California’s ocean and coast by voting yes on AB 1448!
A big thanks to all of the event partners: Surfrider Foundation (Santa Barbara County Chapter and UCSB Student Club), Environmental Defense Center, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Sierra Club, Society of Fearless Grandmothers, UCSB Environmental Affairs Board, Oceana, Center for Biological Diversity, and Get Oil Out.
To learn more and get involved with Surfrider’s ongoing campaign to stop new offshore drilling, visit our Drilling is Killing campaign page.
As Surfrider's Central California Regional Manager, Bill helps chapters tackle pollution issues that are affecting the marine environment. Before covering the area between Ventura and Santa Cruz, he worked with the San Diego Chapter for five years.