Experts warn sound testing for oil and gas reserves is a “severe” risk to some fish in the Bight
SEISMIC ocean testing for oil reserves can pose a ‘severe’ danger to some commercial species of fish like snapper, a government study has found.
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SEISMIC ocean testing for oil reserves can pose a ‘severe’ danger to some commercial species of fish like snapper, a government study has found.
But the study by 46 experts brought together by the West Australian government also showed safe testing for all species could be achieved at water depths greater than 250m.
Prospectors have been testing for oil and gas deposits on the floor of the Great Australian Bight by creating sound waves — from injecting large bubbles of air into the water — which echo off the ocean floor and reveal what lies beneath.
The research showed all 10 species of fish tested could suffer the second most dangerous level or ‘high risk’ at depths being tested in The Bight.
The experts — including from oil companies, SA government departments, fishers and scientists — also concluded that fish often moved towards the sound despite the dangers posed.
“For all fish and invertebrates, the impacts of seismic surveys in waters deeper than 250m was assessed as acceptable (i.e. moderate or lower),’’ the study concluded. “In waters less than 250m, the scores ranged from negligible to severe risk depending on depth, species and seismic intensity.’’
Testing for Bight oil has so far been in water as shallow as 100m, but more commonly at much greater depths because of the greater likelihood of finding oil or gas there.
But petroleum industry spokesman Matthew Doman from APPEA said there were important riders on the information.
He said it showed no evidence of impact on commercial fish stocks, was a workshop summary not a scientific assessment, and the industry coexisted with Bass Strait and Northwest Shelf fisheries.
Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said: “This should serve as a serious warning on allowing seismic testing in the Great Australian Bight’’.
“The risks and impact on the pristine marine life in The Bight are just too great.
“Whether it’s letting big oil and gas drill or allowing further seismic testing, our Bight and the local tourism and fishing industries that rely on it staying clean and healthy are under threat.
“The report shows the shallower the water, the greater the risk. And with waters in one application area as shallow as 100m, this is a risk South Australians are not willing to take.’’
For tests on crabs, prawns, and lobsters, the WA study found a ‘severe’ effect was only evident at less than 50m.
For pearl oysters, scallops, trochus, and sea cucumbers, the ‘severe’ effects were only evident at shallower than 100m.
For goldband snapper, red emperor and pink snapper, the severe effects were only evident at shallower than 50m.