Oil Spills in California

Oil spill photo courtesy of NOAA

This page will continue to be updated with more resources and California Sea Grant involvement. 

On October 2, 2021, a major oil spill was detected in Southern California. While the full scope of the spill remains unclear, the release of close to 25,000 gallons of crude oil is one of the largest in recent years in Southern California.

Oil spills in the marine environment have broad-reaching impacts that can last long after the initial spill event. Marine and coastal habitats, natural resources, and the health and economies of coastal communities can all be negatively impacted. 

California Sea Grant is working with national and state partners to assess our role in this disaster. 

Resources

Volunteer Opportunities

  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced you can now register to be a public volunteer to help with the oil spill clean up. Learn more and apply here.