- TGS had originally proposed world's largest 3D seismic blasting project on record for waters west of Bass Strait, threatening endangered blue whales and other marine life
- At least two thirds of the 30,000 public submissions opposed this seismic blasting proposal
- Seismic blasting can deafen whales, wipe out plankton from over a kilometre away, and kill scallops and lobsters.
Oil and gas exploration companies TGS and SLB-Schlumberger have withdrawn their plans to conduct seismic blasting over vast swathes of ocean west of Bass Strait a year after Australia's offshore oil and gas regulator NOPSEMA received tens of thousands of submissions opposing the original plan.
TGS had originally proposed plans to conduct seismic blasting over 77,000 square kilometres of ocean between Victoria's Otway coast and Tasmania's north west, including inside a Commonwealth marine park - an area larger than the size of Tasmania.
TGS cut down the scale of the seismic blasting project after 30,000 people made submissions about the initial submitted proposal and widespread community opposition led to protests along the Victorian coast. Offshore regulator NOPSEMA has repeatedly knocked back TGS's plans over failures to consult meaningfully with affected stakeholders and failures to adequately consider impacts on marine life such as endangered whales and krill.
TGS's latest seismic blasting proposal covered 31,500 square kilometres - about half the size of Tasmania - and threatened "Biologically Important Areas" for endangered pygmy blue whales.
TGS's partner, SLB-Schlumberger, was known to be under investigation by NOPSEMA for possibly breaching conditions on a previous seismic blasting project in the Bonney upwelling, which delivers nutrient rich waters to south east Australia's oceans, a critical feeding area for pygmy blue whales.
Despite this, TGS and SLB-Schlumberger could still have been granted an Special Prospecting Authority (SPA) permit to conduct more seismic blasting in sensitive areas.
AMCS Oil and Gas Campaign Manager Louise Morris said: "Australians don't want offshore oil and gas or deadly seismic blasting operations damaging marine life, especially endangered species such as the pygmy blue whale. Thousands of people have turned out to protest in coastal communities, and more than 30,000 people made submissions to NOPSEMA about this controversial project, with the vast majority opposing it, including 20,000 AMCS supporters.
"Seismic blasting is deadly for marine life and can impact all levels of the food chain, from its very foundations, killing zooplankton more than a kilometre away, to deafening whales and driving them away from their feeding and breeding grounds. Seismic blasting damages other marine life, too, including killing scallops and impacting the immune systems of lobsters.
"The TGS seismic blasting proposal threatened endangered species such as the pygmy blue whale, and the Zeehan Commonwealth marine park.
"We cannot allow more oil and gas industrialisation in Australia's south-east seas, where marine life is already experiencing multiple threats including climate change, with the waters there warming 3-4 times the global average and currently enduring a severe marine heatwave.
"This is one of two seismic blasting proposals off the seas of south east Australia, with another seismic data company, CGG, planning to blast in the Otway basin along endangered southern right whale migration routes. These companies apply to conduct seismic blasting under a cowboy permit called a Special Prospecting Authority (SPA). SPA permits bypass the more expensive and rigorous annual acreage release process and do not require a company to pass the 'fit and proper persons' test.
"These cowboy permits are a cheap and reckless way for seismic blasting companies to get access to vast areas of our ocean, and do untold damage to our marine life. Companies pay just $8250 for an SPA to conduct seismic blasting in our oceans, including in marine parks, for up to 180 days.
"The Australian government must abolish these reckless SPA permits to clean up the seismic blasting industry."
Images and maps of the proposal.
Feature image: Torquay seismic blasting paddle out in 2024. Image by Adam Stan.
