In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon spill left over a million birds dead and stained the Gulf of Mexico with oil and loss. We saw pelicans, terns, gulls, and gannets—once soaring freely—covered in crude, poisoned by fish slicked with oil, or falling from the sky. And now, with the federal government proposing to expand offshore drilling closer to Florida’s coastlines, we are facing that same nightmare all over again.

This time, birds may be even less protected. The Trump administration recently rolled back enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act—a century-old law that held oil companies accountable for bird deaths, even accidental ones. Under the new interpretation, fossil fuel companies no longer need to take the same preventive measures. If birds die as a result of drilling operations, there may be no penalties at all.

That rollback couldn’t come at a worse moment. Offshore drilling in Florida has long been a bipartisan red line, with leaders from both parties—Governor Ron DeSantis and the full Florida congressional delegation—voicing firm opposition. Floridians know our economy depends on clean beaches and healthy ecosystems. We also know what happened last time we ignored the risks.

We can’t allow federal agencies to weaken enforcement of wildlife protections just as rigs move closer to our shores. We call on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, and Florida’s elected officials to:

• Reinstate full enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
• Block the expansion of offshore drilling near Florida
• Ensure oil companies are held accountable for all bird deaths—accidental or not

Florida’s birds can’t speak for themselves. But we can. Let’s not wait for another oil-soaked pelican to wash ashore. Sign now to demand action before it’s too late.

Photo: AP