There are politicians in Congress who understand the gravity of the ecological crisis we are facing in our planet’s oceans, and those who seem completely unaware of the problem. In the latter category we find Representative Lois Capps, who speaks for communities like Pismo Beach and Oceano in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Recently, Congresswoman Capps took to the floor of the House of Representatives to remind America about the growing problems caused by neglect of oceans policy. She said,

“This year’s summit marked the 10-year anniversary of the Year of the Ocean and the oceans conference in Monterey attended by President Clinton and Vice President Gore. In the intervening 10 years, the Federal Government has done little to address the oceans’ growing problems, ranging from overfishing to pollution to coastal development and global warming. California and Massachusetts have had to step into the breach, but problems as big as our oceans can’t be addressed by a few States.”

In the category of the unaware stands Senator John McCain. As fish populations dwindle, as coral reefs bleach white, as jellyfish populations surge and dead zones expand, John McCain proposes something to make the oceans’ problems even worse by expanding oil drilling in the coastal waters of the USA.

Coastal oil drilling won’t solve America’s current energy crisis. The amount of petroleum that could be obtained through new drilling is insignificant compared to the amount of oil America burns through in even a single day. Yet, the increased risk of environmental destruction through oil spills is not at all insignificant.

It will do America little good to have a few more barrels of petroleum if our oceans are so fouled that we cannot find enough edible seafood along our coasts. John McCain either doesn’t understand that or he just doesn’t care.