Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC — President Joe Biden today took action to protect over 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters from offshore oil and gas drilling, creating a bastion of protection for imperiled ocean species.

Defenders of Wildlife issued the following statement in reaction:

"Today, everyone wins," said Sierra Weaver, Senior Attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “The Biden administration’s monumental decision to make hundreds of millions of acres of our coastal waters off limits to oil and gas development is cause for celebration. This action prioritizes the protection of our endangered species, seafood resources, aquatic life, and natural heritage over corporate interests. Americans have long demanded protections like these, and wildlife desperately needs them. The future of the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf and Alaska coasts have been changed for the better, all in one fell swoop.”  

For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.  

 

Media Contact

Former Communications Specialist

News

Image
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is on his way home after being released from a cold-stun rehab center.
New Orleans, LA

Defenders Celebrates U.S. Appeals Court Ruling to Protect Imperiled Sea Turtles from Drowning in Fishing Nets

A federal appeals court upheld the rule requiring shrimp trawling vessels to use turtle excluder devices so that sea turtles can avoid getting caught in nets.
Image
pale gray north atlantic right whale swimming in dark blue ocean with an entangled string wrapped around the top of its head and seen underneath it's lower body
Washington, DC

House Gambles with Survival for North Atlantic Right Whales in Latest Vote to Delay Protections

The House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 9436, a bill that will delay conservation protections for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.