Photo: Glide Surf Shop signs the board with Surfrider Jersey Shore Chapter. Credit: Jessica Browne
Businesses across the U.S. are opposing new offshore oil drilling by signing the surfboard and joining regional alliances to protect our coasts!
In late 2025, the Trump administration released a dangerous plan to expand offshore oil and gas drilling to over 1.2 billion acres of U.S. ocean, including the federal waters of the Gulf, California, Alaska, and the Arctic Ocean. Just days after the announcement, Surfrider Foundation launched a Sign the Surfboard Tour to demonstrate coastal business opposition to offshore drilling. Surfrider chapters across the U.S. are hosting traveling surfboards to collect signatures from concerned businesses and organize media events with local recreation, tourism, and fishing industry leaders.
Sign the Surfboard launches: Surfrider Florida Keys Chapter Instagram
Based on the enthusiasm from businesses to sign the surfboard, it’s clear that offshore drilling is not just an environmental concern, it’s also a major threat to local economies that rely on a clean and healthy coastal environment for jobs and revenue. From hotels and Ocean Friendly Restaurants to surf shops and sportfishing operators, businesses are speaking out against the threat posed by the federal administration’s offshore drilling plan. Hanging in the balance is the future of our nation’s ocean recreation, tourism, and fisheries industries that provide around 3.3 million jobs and $250 billion in GDP.
Businesses that sign the surfboard automatically join regional alliances that represent over 60,000 businesses opposed to offshore oil and gas development. The Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC) and the Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast (BAPAC) are upending the false narrative promoted by the oil and gas industry that new offshore drilling will create economic opportunities for local communities. In fact, environmental protection is not just beneficial to local economies, it’s essential to the survival of numerous businesses located near the coast, including restaurants, retailers, surf shops, hotels, and seafood businesses.
Pacific Catch Santa Monica is one of many Ocean Friendly Restaurants to sign the surfboard. Photo: Eric Scholbohm
The Sign the Surfboard Tour launched in January 2026, with the West Coast surfboard visiting the South Bay (L.A.) Chapter and East/ Gulf Coast surfboard visiting the Florida Keys Chapter. Since then, the surfboards have visited over 30 chapters (and counting) in California, Florida, and the Eastern Seaboard. Along the way, the surfboards have generated community awareness and media coverage highlighting coastal business opposition to new offshore drilling. To see some of the diverse businesses who have participated, check out our gallery of photos from the tour.
On April 16, 2026, the surfboard visited Washington D.C. as part of Coastal Recreation Hill Day. A Surfrider delegation, including industry leaders from the recreation, tourism, and fishing sectors, presented the surfboard to Trump administration officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior as a symbol of business opposition to new offshore drilling. During the meeting, participants discussed how coastal economies depend on healthy marine ecosystems and would be harmed by the administration’s proposal. The surfboard also visited congressional offices prompting great discussions with federal legislators regarding the linkages between our coastal environment and economy.
Surfrider’s business delegation visits the U.S. Department of the Interior to meet with the Trump administration. Photo: Trey Highton
The Sign the Surfboard Tour will continue through 2026, as the federal administration is expected to move forward soon with the offshore drilling plan process. In the coming months, the Department of the Interior is expected to release the Proposed Program (2nd draft of the plan) and open a 90-day comment period before making a final decision in 2027. As our federal leaders contemplate new oil and gas development off our coasts, the Sign the Surfboard project will continue to highlight the risks and impacts to businesses and communities from this consequential threat.
Here’s how you can take action to stop new offshore drilling!
1) Contact your Members of Congress: Your federal representatives need to hear from you! Complete the action alert to urge your Senate and House members to pass legislation to protect all U.S. coasts from new offshore drilling.
2) Promote the Business Petition: Any business can virtually ‘sign the surfboard’ by completing our online business petition against new offshore drilling. Please share with your networks!
3) Get involved with your local Surfrider Chapter. Surfrider chapters and student clubs are building grassroots opposition to new offshore drilling through education, advocacy, and coalition building. Click here to find your local chapter or club.
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As Ocean Protection Senior Manager, Pete leads the organization's national campaigns on offshore drilling, marine protected areas, renewable energy development, and other ocean-related issues. He holds a B.A. in Environmental Policy from Duke University and a master’s degree from the University of Washington’s School of Marine Affairs.