New species declared endangered on doorstep of Woodside mega-project

The dusky sea snake has been listed as endangered as protests mount over Woodside’s $30 billion-plus Browse gas export project, which is looming over its habitat.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office has announced the listing as Woodside progresses state and federal environmental approvals for its plans to drill up to 50 wells kilometres from Scott Reef as part of its Burrup Hub project.

The dusky sea snake. Credit: Chris Malam.

The advice informing the decision, provided to the minister by her department, recommends the government “urgently review all activities for the fossil fuel industry across the Browse Basin”.

It states threats include a high risk of blowout releasing vast quantities of oil, almost certain excessive marine noise, heavy metals and other toxins, and disturbance of the sea floor which can kill corals that provide habitat for the snakes.

The Scott Reef complex above the gas field is the stronghold for the dusky sea snake, it states, and also crucial for endangered blue whales, green sea turtles and varied other marine species.

Greenpeace says if approved, Woodside’s Burrup Hub would be the largest and most polluting new fossil fuel project in the country.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific head of climate and energy Joe Rafalowicz said the listing must be a wake-up call for both the gas giant and Plibersek.

“The Burrup Hub gas project is too risky to proceed, and will create an extinction risk,” he said.

“Minister Plibersek’s commitment to ‘no more extinctions’ under this government will ring hollow if she does not immediately follow her own department’s advice to protect Scott Reef.

“Crucial reforms to our national nature law have stalled in parliament — which means Woodside can get away with drilling for gas in critical habitat for the dusky sea snake, as the species was listed after Woodside’s approval document was submitted.”

Blanche d’Anastasi, one of the foremost sea snake experts in the country, was the last person to survey the species and contributed to the assessment.

A group gathered at Cottesloe Beach to protest the Browse Gas project.

“This species has undergone massive declines, resulting in this listing,” she said.

“Now, the only known viable breeding population is threatened by this gas rig. This is unacceptable and we need strong action to prevent a catastrophe which could lead to its extinction.”

A Woodside spokesperson said Woodside had conducted an impact assessment of all listed species in the area, including the dusky sea snake, to inform its environmental impact statement for the primary approval with detailed management plans to prevent and mitigate potential environmental impacts.

While the Browse development would occur in the Scott Reef region, he said, no activities or planned impacts were expected to affect the type of complex reef habitats that were the primary habitat of the snake. No drilling was planned for Scott Reef, in the North/South Scott Reef lagoons or the Scott Reef Channel and no physical contact to Scott Reef above the 75-metre contour, the area incorporating the reef habitats preferred by sea snakes, was expected.

He said the management measures and commitments previously made to mitigate any potential environmental impacts on other sea snakes identified in the project area would be relevant to the dusky sea snake.

Tanya Plibersek’s office was contacted for comment.

The news follows a protest at the weekend in which more than 100 people gathered at Perth’s Cottesloe Beach to “send a clear message to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and [Minister] Plibersek that they want the federal government to save Scott Reef and stop Woodside.”

This masthead last week revealed Woodside’s application for carbon capture and storage as part of the project was rejected in August 2023, and last month revealed Western Australia’s environment watchdog was poised to recommend against the project.

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