Marine drilling sure to impact ecology

Save our seas, George:

While we are locked down combating the COVID pandemic another danger is silently going ahead in the waters off our coastline. TOTAL has made application for offshore exploration in 2 blocks off the coastline between Port Elizabeth and Mossel Bay.

The scoping report is out and speaks of drilling of up to 10 exploratory wells to a depth of 600 - 2 300m located between 40 - 110km off the coast, in close proximity to Marine Protection Areas. This will be accompanied by seismic / electric testing and the installation of monitoring buoys. The exploratory drilling will have a negative impact on our coast with the risk of smothering due to drilling cuttings, disturbance particularly of marine mammals due to the seismic testing, impact on the spawning grounds of the kingklip and the breeding of sharks and rays.

The risk of oil spillage and a disastrous blow-out cannot be ignored. Should these occur the entire Garden Route will be impacted upon.

Social impact will also be felt with possible loss of fishing rights for smallscale fisher co-operatives, an influx of job seekers placing strain on existing backlogs in service provision and a decrease in fish stock.

Very limited jobs will be provided; rather there could be a loss of jobs in the tourism sector.

Most importantly the burning of fossil fuels compounds climate change.

SA is already a hotspot for emissions. We simply have to seek alternatives.

Register and speak out, submit written comments to csadan@slrconsulting.com. before 20 July.

See a related article on page 7.