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Lau'ipala (yellow tang fish) swim in a coral reef off the island of Lānaʻi, Hawaii. Reefs are essential to biodiversity, with 25% of all marine species found in, on, or near
them. Healthy reefs also facilitate subsistence and commercial fishing, and they protect people from storm surges and floods, absorbing up to 97% of a shorebound wave’s energy. Around a billion people benefit from reefs. (M Swiet Productions / Getty Images)
feature March 14, 2024

Ocean Biodiversity

Ocean ecosystems are essential to our world, and thankfully, we can still chart a new path forward to protect them.

The Development Driller III in the Gulf Of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana. (Gerald Herbert / AP)
Press Release March 13, 2024

Gulf, Alaska, and Environmental Groups File Motion to Intervene in Oil Industry Lawsuit Against Interior Department’s Five-Year Offshore Leasing Plan

Groups aim to defend against industry efforts to maximize offshore drilling in public waters

Document March 13, 2024

Motion to Intervene in Oil Industry Lawsuit Against Interior Department’s Five-Year Offshore Leasing Plan

Gulf, Alaska, and environmental groups filed a motion to intervene in an oil industry lawsuit challenging the Interior Department’s Five-Year Program for offshore oil-and-gas leasing — to prevent industry from grabbing even more public waters for profit.

Oil drilling infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico. (Brad Zweerink for Earthjustice)
Press Release February 12, 2024

Environmental and Gulf Groups React to API Lawsuit Against Interior Dept. Targeting Five-Year Offshore Leasing Program; Seek Stronger Protections for Gulf of Mexico

As the oil industry pursues a max-out strategy for fossil fuel development in the Gulf with a new legal challenge, advocates flag serious climate, public health, and environmental concerns

Document February 12, 2024

Legal Challenge: Five-Year Offshore Leasing Program

Environmental groups and Gulf-based organizations filed a legal challenge to hold the Interior Department accountable for failing to adequately consider the public health impacts on frontline communities in its final Five-Year Program.

For more than 100 million years, sea turtles have charted the seven seas. (Irina Kozhemyakina / iStockphoto)
From the Experts February 8, 2024

Animal Magnetism: Sea turtles may follow Earth’s pull to navigate home

We’re fighting to protect the Gulf’s imperiled species as oil and gas corporations run freighters through precious habitat, drill deeper, and blast along the Gulf floor.

Rice's whale — a new species of whale recognized in 2021, previously known as a subpopulation of Bryde's whale, endemic to the Gulf of Mexico.
(NOAA Fisheries)
From the Experts January 4, 2024

Gulf Whale: Species in the Spotlight

The federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has added the critically endangered Gulf of Mexico Rice’s whale to a de facto extinction watchlist. But we still need to do more to protect the species.

A sea turtle swims over bleached coral on Heron Island in the Great Barrier Reef.
(The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey/Richard Vevers)
Press Release December 8, 2023

Earthjustice Statement on First-Ever White House Ocean Justice Strategy

Strategy intended to guide ocean justice activities across federal government

Rice's whale — a new species of whale recognized in 2021, previously known as a subpopulation of Bryde's whale, endemic to the Gulf of Mexico.
(NOAA Fisheries)
Article November 17, 2023

Fossil Fuel-Friendly Ruling Endangers the Last Gulf of Mexico Whales

As scientists gathered at the Smithsonian to discuss the significance of the new-to-science whale, a court decision has further jeopardized the already critically endangered whale.

A California sea otter. (Menno Schaefer / Shutterstock)
Article October 27, 2023

3 Marine Species Earthjustice Is Fighting For

As the Endangered Species Act celebrates its 50th anniversary, here’s how we’re using this powerful legal tool to protect ocean creatures.

Update September 29, 2023

A Scaled-Back Offshore Leasing Plan Opens Door to Decades of Oil Extraction

The sales under this program would lock the U.S. into up to 70 additional years of offshore oil and gas extraction, further burdening the health of Gulf communities and imperiling our climate.

Oil drilling infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico. (Brad Zweerink for Earthjustice)
Press Release September 29, 2023

Earthjustice Responds to Biden Administration’s Final Five-Year Offshore Oil-and-Gas Leasing Program

The plan is considerably slimmed down from original proposal but still offers up the Gulf to oil and gas industry

Document September 29, 2023

Fact Sheet: Five-Year Offshore Oil & Gas Leasing Program

Earthjustice analyzed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Act’s connection between offshore oil and gas leasing and renewable energy leasing. Even under Earthjustice’s strictest reading of the IRA, Interior does not need to include more than a single oil and gas sale to allow for all planned federal offshore wind leasing.

Document September 25, 2023

Earthjustice Responds to Initial Fifth Circuit Ruling on Appeal of Court Order to Remove Protections for Endangered Whale from Gulf Lease Sale

Court allows Department of Interior to delay Gulf of Mexico oil and gas auction to November 8, 2023.

Press Release September 25, 2023

Earthjustice Files Lawsuit to Clean Up Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant Sewage Discharges into the Pacific Ocean

Hawai’i County must comply with the Clean Water Act to prevent discharged wastewater from contaminating Honokōhau Harbor

Press Release September 22, 2023

Environmental Groups Appeal Western District of Louisiana Order to Remove Protections for Endangered Whale from Gulf Lease Sale

Emergency order seeks to reinstate protections before upcoming, massive offshore oil and gas sale

Document September 22, 2023

Emergency Motion for Stay Pending Appeal – Order Removes Protections from Endangered Rice’s Whale

Emergency order seeks to reinstate protections before upcoming, massive offshore oil and gas sale

Press Release September 22, 2023

Groups File Supreme Court Amicus Brief in New England Fisheries Case

The case could significantly affect how federal courts review federal regulations