October 22, 2026 — The state of California has created two new marine protected areas and strengthened and expanded two more to conserve coastal waters in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to increase oil drilling off the coast.
“Our ocean is essential to who we are. It’s part of our DNA as Californians,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a release. “While Donald Trump attempts to roll back decades of environmental protections and open our shoreline to new oil drilling, we’re protecting more of our coast and ocean than ever before. In partnership with California tribes, we’re safeguarding coastal communities, marine life, and ways of life that depend on a healthy ocean.”