Tell President Biden to Conserve Blake Plateau!

Located off the coasts of Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida, the Blake Plateau is the largest deep-sea coral reef habitat on Earth. Its corals, floating Sargassum seaweed meadows, and methane seeps feed and shelter a huge diversity of marine life, from endangered sea turtles to sperm whales.

But without strong, durable safeguards, this area could be harmed by industrial activity like oil and gas development.

We need President Joe Biden and the Council on Environmental Quality to conserve key areas of this marine habitat now, before industrial threats take root. Let’s keep this incredible place healthy for this and generations to come.

President Biden must protect the world’s largest deep-sea coral reef habitat from industrial activity.

An underwater view of mounds of Lophelia coral and glass sponges on the Blake Plateau.

NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep

But without strong, durable safeguards, this area could be harmed by industrial activity like oil and gas development.

CTA

Your Message

Subject Conserve Blake Plateau

Dear President Biden and Chair Mallory:

Message Body

Located 80-200 miles off the coasts of Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida, the Blake Plateau is the largest deep-sea coral reef habitat on Earth. Its corals, floating Sargassum seaweed meadows, and methane seeps feed and shelter a huge diversity of marine life, from endangered sea turtles to sperm whales.

This Southern treasure needs strong, durable safeguards to protect it from harmful industrial activity.

These waters’ time-limited protections from oil and gas development expire in 2032, and future development could destroy the area. Deep-seabed mining for minerals in vulnerable areas like the Blake Plateau is risky for huge swaths of marine life. It could generate sediment plumes that stretch for miles, smothering corals and hurting marine animals well outside the immediate development zone. Blake Plateau is a biodiversity hotspot and a likely climate refuge for deep-sea corals, and deserves action to safeguard it from these and other harmful activities.

We must provide durable conservation measures for key ecological features on the plateau now, before industrial threats take root, to keep this incredible place healthy for this and generations to come.

I’m writing today to urge you to take immediate action and conserve the Blake Plateau.

Thank you for working to protect our ocean life.

Your Information

First name *

Last name *

E-mail address *

Zip Code *

Phone

Get Text Message Alerts

By entering my mobile number and checking this box, I agree to receive urgent NRDC Alerts. Message frequency varies. Text HELP to 61636 for help; text STOP to 61636 to end. Msg& data rates may apply. I understand that I’m not required to opt-in as condition for taking action or donating. By leaving this box unchecked, I will not be opted-in to SMS messages at this time. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

When you take action, you'll become an NRDC member. We will keep you informed with the latest action alerts and campaign updates.