Protests continue against ocean survey
This comes after the High Court in Gqeberha started hearing arguments on Monday in an application by environmental groups, local communities, and small-scale fishers to review and set aside the decision by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to award a seismic exploration right to Shell.
The Green Net, an environmental organisation took to Tweni Beach on Monday to join the international protest against Shell’s seismic study to explore for oil and gas along the Wild Coast.
This comes after the High Court in Gqeberha started hearing arguments on Monday in an application by environmental groups, local communities, and small-scale fishers to review and set aside the decision by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to award a seismic exploration right to Shell.
Last year, the attempt to explore by the oil and gas giant was interdicted pending the outcome of this hearing. Helen Dodge of The Green Net told Fever that the protests are iconic saying that the protests are setting the scene on how ocean exploration should be addressed.
Dodge said research has revealed the extent of damage that could be caused by the survey.
“The survey involves the discharge of pressured air from air guns that generate sound waves. And from my understanding, the shockwaves can travel for thousands and thousands of kilometres, and that is why we are out here. There were also protests against Shell in London in the United Kingdom, Richards Bay, Durban, Cape Town, and the Wild Coast,” said Dodge.
Meanwhile, in a recent statement, the Amadiba Crisis Committee said the current court hearings are about the same legal issues as in December 2021. The committee said that Shell does not have an environmental authorisation for seismic blasting in the sea, adding that the case is about the National Environmental Management Act and the fact that no environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been done.
On Monday, members of Amadiba, Kei Mouth, Dwesa-Cwebe, and Port St John communities marched with all supporters from Donkin Reserve to the High Court in Gqeberha.
“At the end of the day, the case is about the climate crisis and fossil fuel expansion that must stop. It is about the threat to marine life from seismic blasting. It is about the threat to the livelihoods of fishing communities and their rights, including spiritual rights,” said the committee.
Shell on the other hand refutes this, saying it had obtained environmental approval through its submission of an Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) in 2014 and a revised one submitted in 2020.
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