Surfrider recently met with Governor Newsom's staff to hand-deliver more than 1,200 Love Your Beach postcards calling on him to defend coastal access, require full environmental review of Sable Offshore's efforts to restart oil drilling in the Santa Barbara Channel, and to join us at one of our hundreds of events along California's coast next year. We also discussed critical issues facing California's coast and ocean, from celebrating the Coastal Act's 50th anniversary to preparing for potential federal threats to our waters.
Celebrating 50 Years of the Coastal Act
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of California's landmark Coastal Act, and celebrations are already in the planning stages across the state. We've invited Governor Newsom to join Surfrider at any one of California's iconic beaches during 2026 to commemorate this milestone and highlight how his administration has strengthened coastal protection and climate resilience over the past eight years.
The Coastal Act has been instrumental in keeping California's beaches accessible to everyone while protecting sensitive coastal habitats and biodiversity – values that remain as vital today as they were in 1976.
Collaborative Approach to Coastal Development
This past year, Surfrider worked closely with state legislators on more than a dozen bills addressing coastal development priorities, including affordable housing, while preserving beach access and habitat protection. We shared this with Governor Newsom’s staff and committed to continuing a collaborative problem-solving approach with both the legislature and the administration to ensure changes to coastal development policies don't produce unintended consequences.
Standing Firm Against Offshore Oil Drilling
We're encouraged by California Attorney General Rob Bonta's lawsuit against Sable Offshore Corp. filed in October for allegedly violating state water quality laws and by additional state-led efforts to keep Sable from ignoring California's laws. Governor Newsom has voiced strong opposition to new offshore oil drilling – we're urging him to continue holding the line against offshore oil expansion.
Preparing for Federal Threats
This is especially relevant with the Trump Administration expected to release its 5-year offshore drilling plan any day, potentially opening all federal waters off California to oil development. Surfrider is prepared to respond quickly and forcefully, and to work alongside Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta, state agencies, state electeds, and our congressional delegation to form a united front against any attempts to harm California's coast. We'll keep everyone updated as this situation develops and let you know how you can take action to protect our ocean. Learn more at our Drilling Is Killing campaign page.