Philippe Cousteau, grandson of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau and founder of Earth Echo, and Ted Danson, award-winning actor, longtime ocean advocate and Oceana board member, urged the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources to protect our oceans and climate from the threats of offshore drilling.

In their testimonies, they called on Congress to quickly reinstate the moratorium on offshore drilling, which was allowed to lapse in 2008 under Bush.

Philippe Cousteau urged Congress to reinstate the offshore drilling bans that until last fall had been in effect for 25 years in Atlantic and Pacific coastal waters.

“Oil and water simply don’t mix,” said Danson. “While not intentional, oil spills do happen and they harm everything from the smallest ocean organisms to the largest predators in the sea.”

“It’s absolutely critical for the health of the oceans. Oil spills still occur.” – Ocean Conservancy board member
Philippe Cousteau

Danson appealed to the Committee, led by Chairman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), that the threats facing the Arctic Ocean will demand a separate and distinct planning process and that we should stop offshore oil and gas activities in the region until there is a comprehensive science-based conservation and energy plan.

Offshore oil drilling will have little if any impact on gas prices. Figures from the U.S. Energy Information Agency show that even at peak production, increased drilling offshore would produce less than one percent of the current energy demand in the U.S. “This is merely pennies at the gas pump,” said Danson.

He also stressed the importance of a speedy transition from fossil fuels to renewable, clean and carbon-free energy, such as offshore wind and solar power. According to recent estimates, the offshore wind industry could generate nearly $950 billion in economic activity and more than 250,000 jobs over the next 20 years.

“We need to work with the oceans, not against them,” said Dr. Michael Hirshfield, senior vice president for North America and chief scientist at Oceana. “The oceans can be a valuable resource in facing the global warming and energy crisis’.”

The goal of the Coastal Explorations Series, free of charge to the public, is to raise regional awareness of issues pertaining to South Carolina’s marine resources, the importance of conservation, and the significance of historical preservation in the Lowcountry area.

The Coastal Explorations Series provides the public with an opportunity to interact with and meet DNR employees that have knowledgeable insight into the following topics.

The public is encouraged to register through the online calendar. Online registration is available 30 days prior to each scheduled event. Reservations are required for all of the events, as detailed logistical information varies for each seminar and public outing. You can check individual descriptions of each event on the calendar, or visit the 2009 Coastal Explorations Series web page for a list through July.

The Coastal Explorations Series during the spring will span from February through May. The events range in format from seminar, lectures, discussion, to hands-on identification and field outings. For additional information on the Coastal Explorations Series, contact Kim Counts, DNR coordinator, at the Marine Resources Center, at (843) 953-9354, or CountsK@dnr.sc.gov.