Whale Conservationists Sound the Alarm: Exposing the Perils of Seismic Blasting on Australia's Coastal Waters

Australian activists are currently seeking to prevent Woodside Energy, an oil and gas company, from carrying out seismic blasting near the country's western coast. They argue that this activity poses a threat to endangered migratory whales, potentially resulting in their deafness or even death. This legal challenge forms part of a larger and ongoing campaign by Indigenous and environmental activists aiming to impede Woodside's "Scarborough" project. This fossil fuel initiative, expected to emit carbon emissions for numerous years, contradicts Australia's efforts to adhere to more stringent climate targets.

Earlier this month, Raelene Cooper, a Marthudunera woman, sought an injunction to postpone the blasting. However, this order is set to expire on Thursday, which would enable Woodside to restart its work. Woodside claims that this work is necessary to indicate the whereabouts of significant gas reserves.

On Tuesday, Cooper presented her case in the Federal Court, stating that Woodside Energy did not consult her adequately before announcing the 30-day blasting period, which is a preliminary step before conducting exploratory drilling.

Airguns shoot compressed air into the ocean floor, with the resulting soundwaves traveling through the seabed and being picked up by receivers pulled by a boat. Geologists can determine the presence of oil and gas reserves beneath the ocean bedrock based on the soundwave patterns. The Australian Marine Conservation Society states that the noise generated can reach 250 decibels, which is approximately a million times more powerful than the loudest sounds produced by whales.

Richard George, the senior campaigner for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, expressed concern about the significant issues faced by whales due to their reliance on hearing for essential activities like navigation, locating their partners, and finding food. He emphasized the dire consequences of deafness for whales, stating, "A whale devoid of its hearing is inevitably a whale condemned to death."

Environmental campaigners say Australia should be making greater efforts to reduce its emissions, not build new fossil fuel projects.

Alex Westover/Greenpeace Australia Pacific

Huge gas project

Woodside Energy intends to extract vast quantities of gas from the Scarborough field, located approximately 375 kilometers (233 miles) off the coast of Western Australia, primarily for export to Asian countries. Although the project received approval from the previous Australian government under Scott Morrison's leadership, it continues to enjoy backing from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's administration, despite their commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Gas is typically less carbon-intensive than coal. However, it is still a fossil fuel that contributes to global warming, and it has been increasingly recognized that its infrastructure is responsible for significant methane leaks. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is even more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term.

In July, Australias offshore oil and gas regulator, NOPSEMA, granted approval for the blasting activity. However, it was acknowledged that Woodside, the company involved, may not have properly identified all Indigenous individuals requiring consultation regarding the seismic blasting plans, nor allowed them sufficient time for consultation.

In a statement provided to CNN, Woodside expressed that it had thoroughly engaged in consultations regarding its environment plans. The company acknowledged devoting ample time and resources to ensure that its approach to environmental management and consultation on the Environmental Plan aligns with the current comprehension of regulatory prerequisites and standards.

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Race and power collide in a fight over sacred rock art in remote Australia

Woodside Energy submitted their marine environmental plan for Scarborough to CNN, dated June 2023. The plan contains a comprehensive list of numerous species of threatened and migratory sharks, mammals, reptiles, and birds that inhabit the blast zone area. Some of these species include loggerhead and leatherback turtles, great white sharks, and pygmy blue whales.

Woodsides plans have been strongly challenged by Greenpeace for being in close proximity to a crucial migration path used by pygmy blue whales, a smaller type of blue whale that migrates from the Antarctic to the waters off Northwest Australia annually.

Although the exact population of pygmy blue whales remains uncertain, the Australian government has classified them as an endangered species.

The species profile of the government highlights the threats posed by "man-made noise" to whales, which may lead to harm or fatality, obstruction of vocalizations, displacement from vital resources (such as prey and breeding grounds), and modifications in behavior. It further mentions that potential contributors of man-made underwater noise disturbance in Australian waters encompass seismic surveys conducted for oil, gas, and geophysical exploration.

According to Woodside's environmental report, the impact on whales will only be temporary. Woodside stated, "Whales will not experience any long-term effects, although there may be temporary impacts on their hearing."

The company will also have dedicated marine fauna observers and systems aboard certain vessels to listen for whale song. In addition, the presence of whales may cause a delay in activities.

Humpback whales at Woodside Energy's dredging site for Burrup Hub.

Wendy Mitchell/Greenpeace Australia Pacific

Fight for cultural heritage

Whales hold deep cultural significance for the local Indigenous community, as they have played a vital role in the ecosystem and have been revered by their ancestors for over 60,000 years.

"A Songline is transported by the Whales, an ancient tale of dreams that has spanned for thousands of years," Cooper informed CNN.

"Our forebears bequeathed us a narrative," Cooper expressed. "These creatures embody a melodic and rhythmic expression that unifies us as Indigenous individuals across this entire continent."

Woodside acknowledges the significance of marine habitats to the customs and culture of Indigenous Australians in its environmental plan. The company recognizes that marine ecosystems can possess both cultural and environmental values. Woodside also acknowledges that any harm caused to marine ecosystems can potentially affect cultural values and commits to effectively managing such impacts.

However, the concerns of the activists go beyond the sea and also involve the ancient petroglyphs or rock art found on Murujuga, also known as Burrup Peninsula. Cooper and her group, Save our Songlines, are worried that the emissions from the Scarborough project might cause damage to these precious artifacts. The artwork, which is believed to be 40,000 years old, provides early depictions of human civilization and serves as irreplaceable cultural connections to the past.

Cooper expressed her distress at the notion that her nation might be exacerbating the climate emergency by extracting fossil fuels from beneath the Earth's surface.

"The constant destruction is deeply concerning," she remarked. "Our citizens are under assault. Our ancestral heritage, biodiversity, ecological balance, and water resources are all at stake."

Woodside Energy's 50-year lifespan will result in a total emissions cost of 878.02 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Critics argue that this projection undermines Australia's proclaimed dedication to decreasing dependency on fossil fuels.

According to Richard George from Greenpeace, Scarborough is a crucial component of the Burrup Hub, which happens to be Australia's largest fossil fuel project. Should this project proceed, the resulting emissions would be equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of Australia over a span of 12 years. Consequently, this would not only pose a significant threat to our climate but also to our oceans.