AJP's Submission to CGG Marine Seismic Survey in the Otway Basin

 I have helped write the Animal Justice Party's submission against the CGG 3D Marine Seismic Survey in the Otway Basin.

CGG are proposing to undertake a Regia three-dimensional (3D) marine seismic survey (MSS) in Victorian waters off the Otway Basin.

The purpose of the Regia 3D MSS is to collect high-quality geophysical data about rock formations and structures beneath the seabed and assess for new gas. 

Seismic testing is a method of searching for oil and gas reserves using blasts of sound from airguns. These blasts are powerful and are able to penetrate the ocean floor, relaying data about what lies beneath the ocean floor back to the surface, which is gathered by geophones attached to surface vessels, which is then relayed to a central location for the data to be reviewed. 

Studies included in our submission identify that seismic blasts can cause considerable damage to marine loss, from damaged hearing, displacement from breeding grounds, change to migration patterns to even death.  

In the submission we conclude the Environment Plan submitted by CGG is an inadequate, deficient, inaccurate evaluation of the mounting scientific evidence about the destruction caused by seismic surveys. The Risk Management Plan and risk mitigation strategies are not fit for purpose. The Animal Justice Party is concerned that an application of some 3,332 pages which requires a response within 30 days is unreasonable, unfair, and unachievable to adequately assess the capacity required for basic review (let alone thorough review).

There have been insufficient studies performed on the potential impacts of seismic testing on marine and other animals to be confident that any proposed mitigations to keep them safe from harm will be sufficient.

Additionally, the consultation process has not adequately engaged with local First Nations communities or their representatives in order to determine the impact of this proposal on areas, or species, of cultural significance.

Nor has there been appropriate consultation with other local community members affected by this proposal such as tour operators, or local sea-loving residents. 

Approving this proposal and allowing seismic testing to commence based on insufficient and inadequate information and directly flouting evidence of known negative and even unlawful impacts on wildlife, is not only irresponsible, but potentially criminal.

We urge you to immediately halt this proposal and not allow seismic testing in the Otway Basin.

View AJP's submission here

Written by Tim Hawthorne

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sea Dumping Bill just kicking the problem down the road?

With the amendment to the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981, brings Australia laws in line with international laws as part of the London Protocol. Sea dumping is the deliberate disposal of wastes or other matter from vessels, aircraft, platforms or man-made structures into the sea. It does not include material released directly into the sea from a land source or operational discharges from ships. The London Protocol sets up a framework which prohibited sea dumping and which required parties to apply for a special permit for approved materials to be dumped. Will facilitate the expansion of gas projects, and as a result increase in seismic testing in Australian waters. Sleipner and Snohvit structures operating in Norway, are the most studied geological structures. They have had over 30 years of countless seismic acquisition or seismic blasting operations just to study and monitor those two carbon capture and storage fields. The Environmental Minister, Tanya Plibersek woul...
Read more

Seismic Testing on Lobsters

 Seismic blasting air guns can shear off hair cells in adult rock lobsters. The loss of hair cells can affect the coordination of the rock lobsters. This is measured by testing the “righting reflex”, which is a test in which a rock lobster is flipped on its back and the time that is required for the rock lobster to right itself is measured. Studies has shown seismic blasts increase the time taken to enact their righting reflex by 80-157%. Studies detected that the intervals between moulting increases in lobsters exposed to seismic blasts, increasing from between 16 and 18 days to between 23 and 30 days, which may result in a slowing of their overall growth rates.  Their normal moulting usually occurs when predators are less likely to be in their area, so the delayed moulting exposes the rock lobsters to a greater risk to predators, just as their new shells are hardening.  The environment plan does not appear to adequately assess the long-term impacts of seismic testing on...
Read more