Tuesday, 28 November 2023

Seismic surveying

Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) (13:53): Scientists have just sounded the alarm that we are heading towards an apocalyptic 3 degrees of global warming, but despite that, fossil fuel companies are trying everything they can to get their hands on more oil and gas. To do this here in Victoria, seismic blasting is about to happen off the western coast of Victoria between Victoria and Tasmania. Basically that means that 3D maps of the ocean floor are created by setting off an underwater bomb every 10 to 15 seconds, 24 hours a day for weeks or months. Those maps are then sold to the highest bidder – in this case, fossil fuel giants looking for more oil and gas.

Seismic blasts are enough to deafen whales, and as we know, whales rely on singing and listening to find their way, so a deaf whale is a dead whale. Seismic blasting can also ruin lobsters’ balance, just like it does when we destroy our ears. It can severely injure and even kill scallops and zooplankton.

This will be the largest seismic survey in history, but thankfully communities can see this for the disastrous, profit-driven plan that it is. Gunditjmara First Nations communities and traditional owners have voiced their strong opposition to blasting on their sea country, and tens of thousands of people have made submissions to the regulator in opposition to it. The Greens are joining with these community members to say no to seismic blasting this summer in Victoria.