Diver defeats oil giants to rescue rare UK seahorses
SEAHORSES put at risk by oil drilling off the coast have been saved after a landmark court case.
Gas and oil giant Corallian Energy Limited won government permission for a controversial well in Poole Bay, Dorset, last year.
But diver Neil Garrick-Maidment launched legal action after seahorses were found dead washed up on the shore.
He has won a crowdfunded judicial review at the High Court after arguing officials had not looked into the impacts on the environment properly.
It means the Government will review its offshore drilling regulations and make changes after consulting the public.
Mr Garrick-Maidment, founder of the Seahorse Trust, said: “Winning this case is a major step in making sure that environmental laws are abided by and, more crucially, fit for purpose.
“The case was supported by many people worldwide and without them it could not have been done.”
Four breeds of seahorses – a protected species – were found dead on Dorset beaches from February to March, said Mr Garrick-Maidment,
60, from Topsham, Devon. He added: “They [the Government] have been tick-boxing through all these oil rigs and not doing the environmental impact assessments correctly, as well as not giving people the chance to object.”
The Seahorse Trust says Poole Bay is an important breeding site. In 2008 around 40 spiny seahorses were recorded in Studland Bay. In 2017 only 14 of the spiny and short snouted species were seen. Mr Garrick-Maidment went on: “The drilling produces six tonnes of chemicals. Seahorses are fragile creatures, noise pollution is also a killer and they suffer very badly from that.”
Solicitor Susan Ring, who helped fight the case, said: “It has become clear in the course of these proceedings that environmental impact assessment of offshore oil projects is still in the Dark Ages, in contrast to the planning system generally.” Corallian declined comment. Its well could yield up to 15 million barrels of oil.