TORQUAY surfer Belinda Baggs led a paddle out from Geelong\u2019s Port on Sunday, protesting seismic testing for oil exploration in the Otway Basin.<\/p>\n
More than 40 protesters were either in the water on their boards to disrupt the loading of seismic survey ship the Geo Coral or blockading the gateway entrance to the port as part of environmental group Otway Climate Emergency Action Network campaign.<\/p>\n
Three protesters locked themselves to the gates with chains and bike locks, with one arrested and all released without charge at this stage.<\/p>\n
OCEAN spokesperson and Apollo Bay resident Lisa Deppeler said the peaceful, COVIDSafe demonstration achieved its aim to disrupt the ship\u2019s operations, delaying the vessel by about three hours, and raising awareness of the impact of seismic testing on the marine environment and the local fishing industry.<\/p>\n
Lisa said this was OCEAN\u2019s first organised protest, with the support of other Geelong and Otway region groups, which also aimed to draw attention to the bigger issue of Australia\u2019s inaction on climate change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are frustrated by the token consultation offered by our government regulator, National Offshore Petroleum Safety Environment Management Authority,\u201d Belinda said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe write letters and respond to what little opportunity there is from NOPSEMA but our efforts are just ignored,\u201d she said, explaining why environmentalists chose to protest.<\/p>\n
Lisa said the ship was en route to the Otway Basin, west of King Island, to explore for gas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe offshore title to be surveyed by the Geo Coral is owned by gas and oil companies\u2019 3D Oil and ConocoPhillips and covers an area of 4,089 square kilometres,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plans have rung alarm bells for fishers, environmentalists and King Islanders.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurrounding councils including Colac Otway Shire, Surf Coast and King Island Council have officially opposed seismic testing in the waters of the Otway Basin.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeismic blasting involves releasing 259 decibel blasts from the rear of the ship, to determine gas and oil deposits deep below the ocean floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe blasts are so loud they are no longer a sound you can actually hear; they are a massive shock wave of energy; scientific evidence confirms the blasts kill, damage and disturb a huge array of marine creatures including whales.\u201d<\/p>\n
Apollo Bay rock lobster fisherman Trevor Barker said he joined the protest because he had seen first-hand that seismic testing was \u201cdecimating the marine life\u201d in his fishing grounds off Apollo Bay.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the last year or so, fishing has been in strong decline, the ships just go out there and blast away and don\u2019t care what they wipe out,\u201d Trevor said.<\/p>\n
Lisa said the seismic testing was impacting the environment and local industries; \u201call this when we don\u2019t need to find new gas\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we are to limit global warming and for our planet to be a safe place for our children to live, we must leave fossil fuels under the ground,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TORQUAY surfer Belinda Baggs led a paddle out from Geelong\u2019s Port on Sunday, protesting seismic testing for oil exploration in the Otway Basin. More than 40 protesters were either in the water on their boards to disrupt the loading of seismic survey ship the Geo Coral or blockading the gateway entrance to the port as […]<\/p>\n