Big Oil was responsible for over 600 spills in UK waters in 2025, 85 of which were in or next to protected areas.

This equates to tonnes of toxic oil poisoning our seas and threatening precious wildlife, like porpoises, puffins, and seals.

To shine a light on this issue, in January, the Ocean Alliance Against Offshore Drilling held an event in parliament highlighting the brutal impacts of oil and gas developments on marine wildlife and coastal communities. Our discussions set up decision-makers to go into the year ready to fight for our seas and make change.

Following the event, a group of supportive parliamentarians led by Sarah Champion MP have written to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, calling on the government to urgently safeguard our seas by ending all new oil and gas. The letter also urges the government to introduce much-needed legislation that will enshrine in law its world-leading commitment to end oil and gas exploration.

This progress would be life-changing for marine wildlife impacted by spills on a daily basis. New research by Oceana UK, ZSL and Cefas has been launched to explore the impact of chronic oil and chemical spills on marine mammals – painting an even more vivid picture of why we need an end to offshore drilling.

2026 is set to be a crucial year determining the future of oil and gas in the UK. We will continue to speak up as an alliance until our ocean is protected.