President Obama’s decision to open up the Southeast Atlantic coast to offshore oil drilling begs the question of how significantly, if at all, ocean tourism and activities like surfing and fishing will be affected. Not surprisingly, environmental groups such as Surfrider oppose the plans, citing the threat it causes to “the millions of Americans who rely on clean, healthy, oil-free oceans and beaches to support fishing, tourism, and other industries.” Elsewhere, surfers have opposed the drilling from Miami to North Carolina.
Check out a map of the proposed drilling sites here.
— Jennifer L. Schwartz