Court ruling on the seismic surveys for gas and oil along the Wild Coast – good news for marine life and ecosystems

What a difference – South Africa’s Wild Coast saw a massive wave of mainstream NGO opposition to seismic blasting for oil and gas – and as a result of protest the SA Government set aside blasting in the protected area. What a fantastic response to brave campaigning. Meanwhile here in the UK the very intensive (blasts of sound every five seconds!) seismic blasting for a deep nuclear dump raises barely an eyebrow – is that because nuclear is “clean” now?? Is it taboo? Hope to see a few folk at Whitehaven tomorrow when we hand over the petition to the Marine Management Organisation who allowed the seismic blasting to take place and “look forward to continued engagement with Nuclear Waste Services regarding the GDF,” Next stop – more seismic blasting and deep boreholes …unless in the words of the Lorax “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” and the nuclear industry will continue its juggernaut.

elmuseumscience

Below the ruling from the High Court in Makhanda on the exploration of the Wild Coast for oil and gas.

The East London Museum Natural Sciences section is proud to have played a role in raising the plight of marine mammals which have previously been affected by exploratory seismic surveys and this ruling will assist in protecting whales, dolphins, seals, fishes and a myriad of other marine organisms from harm caused by air gun arrays blasting (seismic surveys) to map the sea floor for oil and gas.

One of the deep diving species of beaked whales – Blainville’s beaked whale which stranded (21 December 2021) shortly after the seismic surveys were halted by a court order in December 2021. Pictured is museum scientist Kevin Cole examining the whale after it stranded at Pullen’s Bay, Wild Coast

On the 4th November 2021 the Daily Dispatch published the article above which ignited…

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