Regional Ocean Planning

New England’s ocean, like others around the country, is facing increasing pressure from industrial development. Ocean uses, such as oil and gas drilling, sand and gravel mining, underwater pipelines and utility cables, and commercial shipping, pose serious threats to ocean habitat and the fisheries and wildlife they support.

CLF has long opposed oil and gas drilling off of New England’s shores. In 1977, we won a landmark lawsuit that successfully blocked the development of new oil leases on Georges Bank, a reprieve that has lasted for more than 30 years. CLF is continuing to fight for a permanent moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the North Atlantic.

Today, new forms of development, such as offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy, are on the horizon. While CLF supports such beneficial ocean uses to lessen the impacts of climate change, we recognize the need for comprehensive, coordinated planning to achieve a delicate balance between development and protection. To ensure the long-term sustainability of our ocean in the face of this continuing demand, CLF is committed to forging strong, ecosystem-based ocean policy at the state and federal levels.