Turning the Tide Newsletter – Spring 2023
Offshore Oil & Gas
Offshore oil and gas development harms our oceans, our wildlife and our coastal communities.
Right now, the offshore fossil fuel industry is expanding with massive seismic blasting and test drilling proposals in the whale-rich waters between Victoria and Tasmania.
The vast area where these fossil fuel companies want to hunt for gas includes a huge section of Zeehan Marine Park. This special area, which was made a marine protected area in 2007, includes critical habitat for southern right and blue whales.
Seismic blasts are used by the oil and gas industry to survey the ocean floor. This disastrous process involves air cannons firing loud explosions underwater every 10-15 seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These blasts are some of the loudest human-made sounds in the ocean and are deadly for marine life. The blasting can kill zooplankton more than a kilometre away, and deafen whales.
Taking on big oil and gas is a challenge we are ready for and we’ve already begun working with communities across Victoria and Tasmania to stop three oil and gas exploration proposals.
Help us stand up to the fossil fuel industry’s damaging plans to expand in our oceans.