Sarasota joins Florida communities to oppose renewed offshore oil drilling

The city of Sarasota has gone on record as officially opposing any opening of oil and gas exploration off the Gulf Coast of Florida. 

On Jan. 19, the City Commission, with no discussion other than the urging of approval by Jen Ahearn-Koch, unanimously adopted a resolution that puts the city in alignment with multiple jurisdictions. They include Sarasota and Manatee counties, Okaloosa County, the city of Destin and the city of St. Pete Beach, all of which cited risks to coastal economies, fisheries, environmental resources and long-term resilience.

Presented by Sarasota Public Works Director Nikesh Patel and City Engineer Sage Kamiya, the resolution was drafted in response to a policy shift by the the U.S. Department of the Interior, which on Nov. 20, 2025, through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, released a draft 2026-2031 Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program. 

It introduces a newly designated “South-Central Gulf of America” planning area to allow future offshore lease sales in federal waters east of the Alabama state line and closer to Florida’s west coast than previously permitted. 

The program would reverse the Biden administration’s moratorium on offshore oil and gas leasing, which for now remains in effect through 2032.

In addition to the local jurisdictions, Florida’s Congressional delegation issued a bipartisan letter dated Dec. 4, 2025, urging the Trump administration to uphold the existing moratorium and oppose any expansion of offshore drilling off Florida’s coasts.

The “whereases” that precede the "now wherefore” in the resolution include:

• Sarasota is a coastal municipality dependent on clean water, white sand beaches and thriving marine ecosystems that support a robust tourism and recreation economy.
• The city’s economy, public health and ecological integrity would be significantly threatened by offshore drilling and its associated risks.
• The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf resulted in the largest marine oil spill in history, causing extensive and lasting environmental, economic and public health harm across Florida’s coastline.
• Coastal tourism, fishing and outdoor recreation industries generate more than $250 billion annually and support millions of jobs across the country.
• Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2018 banning oil drilling in state waters.