COASTAL community groups have expressed alarm at a plan to conduct seismic testing for gas and oil over a Tasmania-sized area of the Otway basin that could run for up to five years.<\/p>\n
International geophysical specialists TGS and Schlumberger want to 3D map beneath the ocean’s floor for prospective fossil fuel producers in waters between Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.<\/p>\n
It would involve loud blasts from a ship down through the ocean floor in an area well-renowned as migratory route and nursery for numerous species of whales, dolphins and seals, and a lucrative fishing area for rock lobster and southern blue-fin tuna.<\/p>\n
“It’s far louder than a plane taking off or a gunshot… every 3-10 seconds, 24 hours a day, potentially for up to 200 days a year,” Surfers For Climate Co-Founder Belinda Baggs said of the process.<\/p>\n Chair of the Apollo Bay fisherman’s co-operative Markus Nolle said the “absolutely massive” survey area would be the biggest ever conducted there.<\/p>\n “Seismic activity on this scale will have a huge impact… displace migratory finfish, and fatally damage other oceanic species.”<\/p>\n The companies say the testing is in deeper waters to reduce the potential effects on marine fauna and effected commercial fisheries would have their claims considered on a “case by case basis”.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/In-Article-12.png\")
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