The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has called on the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment to reconsider its decision on the approval of UK-based company CGG to conduct a seismic survey in the Algoa-Outeniqua Basin off the south-east coast of South Africa.
In an appeal document launched this month, the organisation’s spokesperson Jacques Peacock said CGG’s non-technical survey was being used to pursue this project for financial gain and has taken a disingenuous approach. In their statement, the NSPCA said that it had concerns related to animal welfare and environmental impact.
“The proponents state that most of the survey area between Plettenberg Bay and Algoa Bay is of ‘least concern’, and only the extreme inshore portion is ‘vulnerable’.
“However, the survey area borders several threatened, endangered and critically endangered ecosystems, and the assessment fails to address the impact of the seismic shock waves from the survey on these ecosystems,” he said in the appeal document.
Seismic surveys are used by mining companies to find and to estimate the size of offshore oil and gas reserves, according to the South African Association for Marine Biological Research. A ship tows multiple airgun arrays that emit thousands of high-decibel explosive impulses to map the seafloor and rock strata.
Peacock said there was a concern about industrial activities occupying a significant portion of the natural habitat, diminishing the coastal ecosystem and raising animal welfare concerns. He added that possible mitigations rely on forecasts and modelled scenarios because there is not enough research and data.
“This approach raises concerns, as the survey is pursued without understanding its potentially detrimental effects on the marine ecosystem. It was emphasised that South Africa, guided by section 24 of the Constitution, cannot prioritise economic gain over environmental and animal welfare.
“Both aspects should be considered equally, ensuring a just and equitable outcome rather than prioritising economic growth at the expense of the environment and animals, with only weak mitigating factors for protection,” he said.
This comes after CGG, a UK company that advocates for integrating human ingenuity, data and technology for sustainability, received environmental authorisation from the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment for an oil and gas seismic survey in Plettenberg Bay-Algoa Bay in November.
The company plans to perform a speculative 3D seismic survey daily for five months starting January 2024. The survey is meant to cover 12 000 km2 and spans migratory whale routes between Gqeberha and Plettenberg Bay.
Liziwe McDaid, strategic lead at social and environmental justice group The Green Connection, said the appeal was essential to show government decision-makers and oil and gas companies that South Africans are united against climate-change causing fossil fuels, which also threaten the livelihoods of coastal communities.
“This is why, on Saturday (9 December) we joined with people all over the globe to stand together to oppose oil and gas. There is a climate crisis! We all need people’s power that is sustainable and renewable to change from this poisonous power dynamic,” McDaid said in a statement.
She added that it was important to act now to shift to a clean future and avoid leaving generations with an almost unliveable planet.
“We call on South Africans to support the NGOs and to join the movement to protect our oceans and marine life and, in the process, safeguard the livelihoods of our local small-scale fishers. We need you, the people, to stand up and join the fight, now. Do not wait until next year,” she said.
Patrick Dowling from the National Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa also said that the appeal was another way to demonstrate civil society’s concern about and rejection of the country’s ongoing approval of new fossil fuel-based projects.
“Karpowerships and deep-sea seismic explorations are being approved by government, and even coal mines are being considered. Some of them are in wildlife reserves.”
“It is as if the government, which signed the Paris Agreement, does not think about what its commitments should be to the decarbonisation of our country, and in so doing help the world to decarbonise as well,” Dowling said.
The minister’s decisions sparked concerns from environmentalists, social activists and fishing communities, who argue that seismic activity harms marine life.
Despite CGG’s claim of low impact with mitigation measures, critics emphasise the need to consider animal welfare and constitutional mandates.
Peacock said there is a need for an urgent and thorough review of the processes.
“In the spirit of responsible governance and sustainable development, we urge the department to reconsider its stance, prioritising the wellbeing of marine life, the environment and the future generations who will inherit the consequences of our decisions,” he said.