SUP Against Offshore Oil Drilling

May 03, 2018 By SUP Magazine 

What are the implications of a massive oil spill?

Jennison and Shaw navigate through the fog on their way to Moss Landing on a mission to stop offshore oil drilling. Photo: Grace Grignon

In the wake of Earth Day 2018's global initiative to beat plastic pollution, April 23^rd, Celine Jennison and Christian Shaw of Plastic Tides paddled down the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz and across Monterey Bay to their destination at Moss Landing, a 17-mile stretch of ocean in an area teeming with wildlife.

Their mission was to “Stand Up to New Offshore Oil” by using the crossing to bring attention to the growing threat of new offshore drilling, how it connects to the plastic we use everyday, and the opportunity to mitigate climate change through regenerative perennial agriculture.

Following the shoreline from Santa Cruz to Capitola, the pair wound through kelp forests past otters, harbor seals and surfers enjoying a decent swell along Santa Cruz's east cliff. The infinite amount if life they encountered in this short 17-mile stretch of water served as a brilliant reminders of what's at stake.

Passing Capitola en route to Moss Landing, Jennison and Shaw found themselves with an unforeseen dilemma: The beach at Moss Landing was nowhere to be seen, nor was much of anything for that matter. What was supposed to be a beautiful clear day turned misty and socked in with heavy fog. The direct heading south would be taking them further and further from the shoreline as it curved eastward.

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