The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) has welcomed the inclusion of seismic blasting and its impact on fish stocks as part of the inquiry into fishing practices in Western Australia as confirmed in State Parliament yesterday.
Seismic blasting is a practice used heavily in offshore fossil fuel exploration, and Carbon Capture and Storage (also referred to as Carbon Dumping or CCS).
The inquiry follows the introduction of a ban on commercial and recreational demersal fishing along a section of the WA coast from the beginning of next year to protect long-term fish stocks, including iconic species such as dhufish and snapper.
CCWA Executive Director Matt Roberts said the inclusion of seismic blasting in the inquiry was an opportunity to hold industry to account and shine a light on the impacts of this highly intrusive technology on WA’s marine environment.
“The state-wide ban on demersal fishing as a necessary and important step in protecting species recovery into the future, but it would be seriously undermined by approvals for seismic blasting to explore for new gas reserves in key spawning areas,” Mr Roberts said.
“Seismic surveys use loud air guns towed behind vessels in a grid pattern through the ocean. Low frequency blasts of up to 250dB are fired every 4-10 seconds, 24 hours a day for months on end.
"A recent landmark study in the Bass Strait by Marine Environment Research verified the direct impact seismic blasting can have on local fishing populations. The report found that, across local fish stocks, catch rates were reduced by 75-99%.
“When we're asking local fishing communities to give our demersal population every chance of recovery, we cannot turn around and hand the oil and gas industry yet another free pass. We cannot ignore the impact seismic blasting has.
“Earlier this year we met with Minister Jackie Jarvis to express our concerns and conveyed the messages of the fishers we’ve spoken to, including demersal fishers in the mid-west, so it’s pleasing to see our collective concerns have been heard.
“New gas proposals like Woodside’s Browse gas export project would require ongoing seismic blasting for carbon dumping. It’s not worth risking our marine life and fishing stocks for proposals like Browse that would damage the climate and send more gas overseas royalty-free.”
ENDS
Media contact: John Cooke – 0433 679 780