(All photos from the Kromme Enviro-Trust Facebook Page)
News Release
11 December 2023
Locals Get Involved With Protest Against Seismic Blasting And Gas Drilling Off SA Coast
Twenty-six groups from communities around South Africa came together on Saturday, 9 December 2023, in a wave of protest against seismic blasting and gas drilling off South African Coastlines.
Public Outrage
Multinational corporations, including Shell and Total Energies, and contractors, such as CGG and Searcher, are the focal points of the latest round of public outrage in the protest against seismic blasting.
The most pressing of these is CGG, which has already been granted the go-ahead by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy SA.
Blasting will begin off the coast from Plett to Gqeberha in January 2024. The survey block 45km off Cape St Francis Lighthouse is of particular concern to our community.
Seismic Blasts
A seismic blast, roughly the intensity of a space shuttle launch, will be set off every ten seconds, twenty-four hours a day, for six months. These blasts will be devastating to marine life, industry, tourism and livelihoods through long-lasting effects on the following:
1. Fish and chokka spawning grounds.
2. Whale migration routes within the registered Whale Heritage Site.
3. This is a Critical Biodiversity area.
4. Areas which are registered ecologically and biologically sensitive (EBSA).
5. Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) 26-31.
6. All marine species, including Endemic and endangered species.
7. Registered Mission Blue Hope Spot.
Protest Against Seismic Blasting – What You Can Do
1. If you object to this project as an interested and affected party, then you have the right to launch a formal appeal with The Appeal Administrator no later than 13 December 2023.
All appeals should be cc’d to:
EAappeals@petroleumagencysa.com
cggsouthcoast@slrconsulting.com
2. If you are not a stakeholder, scan the QR code below and sign the petition.
3. Join our local groups for updated information:
Facebook:
Stop Seismic Survey Cape St Francis
and
Kromme Enviro-Trust St Francis
Instagram: stopseismicsurveycapestfrancis
See also: Hands Off Our Sea!
This criminal blasting by Shell and CGG is totally unacceptable as it will totally destroy the life and nature of our beautiful coast leaving it dead. Stop buying Shell Petrol.
Such a disappointing turn out for this protest. Such apathy for what would be a catastrophe for our ocean & marine life….. the immensely valuable calamari industry & employment it provides…..the end of our beautiful whales & the plankton they come to feed on. The list of disastrous impacts this seismic testing will have is horrendous so whilst salutations for those who did turn out for the protest gathering….where were all the people who didnt make the effort?