Tasmanians protest ConocoPhillips seismic tests

Locals protest against ConocoPhillips
King Island locals protest the seismic testing

Residents of King Island, in Tasmania’s Bass Strait, have protested against seismic testing being conducted by US oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips, concerned the activity will adversely affect local fisheries.

According to The Guardian, ConocoPhillips was given approval earlier this month to look for gas in a 4,089sq km area 20km off the island’s west coast.

“Fishers joined surfers, environmental activists and other local residents of the 1,600-strong island population in a protest against the testing on Thursday. Two commercial fishing vessels, four dinghies and 20 people met on the water, while 100 residents gathered on the wharf,” the report said.

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Tony “Bear” Alexander, 59, told the newspaper he had joined the rally to fight for future generations, saying locals were worried they would end up with visible oil rigs offshore.

“I’m an old bloke, but if we don’t stand up to them, who will?” he said.

“You can see some beautiful sunsets here, and there’s nothing worse than seeing an oil rig in it.”

ConocoPhillips said it had complied with regulatory requirements imposed by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), the regulatory body that approved the testing.

Last week ConocoPhillips instructed divers that the low frequency sound waves emitted by the seismic testing would be in the range of 140-148db—equivalent to the sound generated on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Those opposing the testing were concerned about the effect these sound waves will have on marine life, however, a spokesperson for ConocoPhillips, Fiona McLeod, said its environmental assessment had not found a “cause-effect pathway” that could have a “stock-level impact on the sustainability of the fishery”.

Ms McLeod acknowledged seismic testing could have an impact but said the regulator had determined the risk of the work near King Island could be managed.

King Island mayor Julie Arnold said the inability to rule out any impact on the fisheries was a community concern.

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“People had some optimism that all the work that was done and the explanations we’d given about why we felt this was not the right thing to do would have some cut through,” Ms Arnold told The Guardian.

“They now realise it’s had no cut-through at all. Basically, the approvals have been given regardless of the feelings of the people and the businesses that are being affected by this.”

She said the company was under no legal obligation to pay compensation if damage occurred, but it had negotiated an “adjustment protocol” with “the relevant fishing associations”.

Read the full report here.

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