By Cindy Claus and John Weber
New Jersey’s coastal businesses are at risk right now from a hidden threat that could spell disaster at a moment’s notice: oil spills.
Our state has been largely protected from offshore oil drilling in the past due to its status as a major tourist destination. Jenkinson’s Aquarium and other advocates joined an Oceana-led effort in Washington, D.C. in the hopes of keeping it that way, asking our political leaders to leave New Jersey out of plans that are being developed behind closed doors.
Right now, the Trump administration is drafting its new offshore drilling proposal for the next five years, and every square inch of New Jersey’s coastline is on the table, along with all U.S. coasts. That could lead to devastation for our thriving tourism areas, from Cape May to Sandy Hook, along with Delaware and Raritan Bays with their important shellfish and finfish fleets.
The first comment period for this new oil and gas plan recently ended, and there were more than 86,000 public comments – almost all of which opposed the expansion of offshore drilling. Multiple towns in New Jersey passed resolutions and spoke up to urge the U.S. government to spare our coasts. There is a strong bipartisan tradition here in New Jersey to prevent offshore drilling expansion that continues to this day.
Jenkinson’s Aquarium submitted a comment in opposition to drilling and seismic blasting because we serve as a microcosm of the potential devastation that an oil spill could bring to the Garden State. Our spot on the boardwalk in Ocean County employs 35-50 people year-round, and we have 275,000 visitors a year. It is safe to say that we would lose many of those visitors if the beaches were fouled by a toxic spill. Those people, in turn, would not frequent the restaurants, bars, hotels, or summer rentals in the area, either. Multiply that by the thousands of businesses along the shore and it’s easy to see how offshore oil drilling and spilling could devastate the entire tourism economy in New Jersey.
Thankfully, the Jersey Shore has been saved from drilling plans in the past by heroic leaders. Federal officials of all political stripes have worked for decades to keep offshore drilling away from our coastlines, spurred on by countless businesses, residents, and advocates raising their voices, rallying together, and speaking out against filthy offshore oil and gas development. State law currently prohibits fossil fuel infrastructure from traversing state waters, but that could change with this new proposal.
Healthy, thriving coastlines are vital to millions of New Jersey residents. Permanently protecting these waters from oil spills will safeguard our coastal economy. In 2021, the tourism and recreation sector led all segments of the U.S. marine economy in growth, expanding by a whopping $49.8 billion. We can’t afford an oil spill.
The Trump administration must heed the overwhelming bipartisan call from our state to protect our coasts from expanded offshore drilling and leave New Jersey out of its proposed offshore drilling plan. Congress should also pass the COAST Anti Drilling Act (S.1486), a bipartisan bill introduced earlier this year to permanently protect our waters by law from offshore drilling and spilling.
Our economy, our livelihoods, and our future are at stake.
Calling your elected representative in the U.S. House Of Representatives or U.S. Senate is the most effective way to influence policy. To find your representative and senator to voice your position, go to the House website and the Senate website.
Cindy Claus is director of Jenkinson’s Aquarium. John Weber is senior Mid Atlantic Field Representative for Oceana.
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