In early 2022, thousands of people gathered along Argentina’s Atlantic coast chanting “The sea is not to be touched”. The protests erupted after the national government authorized Equinor, YPF, and Shell to begin offshore oil exploration 300 kilometers off Mar del Plata, one of the country’s main coastal cities. What began as a local environmental concern quickly evolved into a nationwide movement defending marine life, small-scale fisheries, and coastal identity against the advance of the offshore oil industry.
The movement coalesced around the “Asamblea por un Mar Libre de Petroleras” (Assembly for a Sea Free of Oil Companies, in English), a grassroots organization, composed of a diverse range of individuals and organizations, including environmental groups, scientists, lawyers, and citizens concerned about the environmental impact, that soon became the main voice of opposition to offshore exploration. The Assembly framed the initiative as a threat not only to marine ecosystems but also to democracy, participation, and territorial rights, emphasizing that the process lacked meaningful public consultation. Organizations ranging from national NGOs like Greenpeace Argentina to public research institutions, such as CONICET (Argentina’s Council for Science and Technology), also became involved in the public debate, contributing with technical expertise and visibility to the cause. Their shared message was clear: decisions about the sea must include those who live by and depend on it.
Throughout 2022, public demonstrations, art performances, and local assemblies multiplied along the coast. The campaign connected the issue of offshore oil with wider struggles, such as against extractivist economies and climate change. Municipal governments and local councils joined calls for suspension, while the public hearings on the Environmental Impact Assessment exposed flaws in consultation procedures. In February 2022, a federal court in Mar del Plata issued a precautionary injunction halting exploration, citing inadequate evaluation and violation of procedural rights under the Escazú Agreement (ratified by Argentina in 2020).
Later that year, the Court of Appeals partially lifted the suspension, allowing oil companies’ activities to carry on under stricter monitoring schemes. Finally, in 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the exploration permits, closing the judicial route but leaving a transformed public conversation about ocean governance in its wake.
The first court ruling was a temporary but symbolic victory for the social movement. Beyond the courts, the “Asamblea por un Mar Libre de Petroleras” main success succeeded is turning a technical issue into a national debate. Thousands of new activists engaged in collective actions defending the sea. Scientists and environmentalists collaborated to produce independent data on acoustic pollution, whale migration, and fisheries. And local governments began to discuss marine conservation policies. These actions did not succeed in stopping the project, but they led the Supreme Court to require the government and the companies to introduce a series of modifications to the project, to conduct a strategic environmental assessment, and to strengthen several safety protocols.
Although exploration continues under environmental safeguards, the Asamblea remains active, raising public awareness of coastal issues and establishing networks with other coastal movements in Argentina. Overall, the mobilization has led to lasting changes in the way marine issues are perceived nationwide.
However, the future for Argentina’s ocean governance comes with significant challenges. Argentina’s offshore exploration program extends beyond Mar del Plata, with new seismic campaigns planned in other marine basins. If commercially viable oil reserves are discovered, the political and economic pressures for their exploitation will intensify. In this context, the movement must rethink its strategies, considering how to sustain social mobilization, influence future licensing processes, and advance alternative proposals for marine protection and sustainable livelihoods. This is particularly relevant in the context of the decision of the supreme court, which eventually allowed exploration to continue. The next steps for Argentina’s ocean defenders will likely depend on their ability to adapt, re-organize, and persevere in shaping the national conversation on what a just and equitable relationship with the sea looks like.
