Stay in the know about wildlife, water quality, and ecosystems on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and in Southwest Florida
Oppose Plan to Allow Oil Drilling in Florida Waters
Oil and Gas Drilling Plan to be Released
The federal government is close to releasing a plan to allow oil and gas drilling off both coasts of Florida, even in previously protected areas.
In 2010, the deadly Deepwater Horizon oil disaster spilled between 3.19 – 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf and killed 11 people, along with countless marine animals. The coastal fishing industry suffered impacts of $8.7 Billion by 2020, with a loss of 22,000 jobs. The broader impacts to tourism were in the billions, and many areas are still recovering.
In 2018, Florida’s voters approved a constitutional amendment that banned oil and gas drilling in state waters, which is up to 10 miles off the Gulf Coast and 3 miles off the Atlantic coast.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Please use the following comment boxes to share your concern for any proposal to allow drilling off the coast of Florida. If you live outside of the region, we encourage you to contact your local U.S. Senators and Representatives and let them know how much this issue means to you.
COMMENT BOXES
TALKING POINTS
Let them know how strongly you oppose oil and gas drilling off both coasts of Florida. Encourage them to immediately contact the Trump administration to recommend a halt to any proposal to drill off Florida’s coastline. The devastation of a potential spill to our fishing and tourism economy and to our fragile environment is not worth the risk.
Lessons Learned?
The Deepwater Horizon disaster occurred over 100 miles from Florida’s coast, yet because of Gulf currents, each Florida County on the Gulf experienced varying degrees of impact.
No one can guarantee that this will not happen again. Even a small spill can have disastrous economic and environmental impacts, and a large spill can do permanent and irreparable damage to every aspect of our lives in Florida.
We appreciate the recently filed “American Shores Protection Act,” a bill by Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody to extend the existing drilling ban off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina — but that legislation has several hurdles before it becomes law.
Other federal bills filed by Florida legislators to ban oil drilling off Florida’s coasts have been filed, but ultimately did not pass.
We urge you to take action and contact Sens. Scott and Moody and Rep. Donalds.
SCCF is actively working to support a permanent ban on oil and gas drilling in Florida waters. Please stay tuned for updates and more action alerts on this urgent matter.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with our legislators! Your voices make a meaningful difference in the effort to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems.