Call for a moratorium on seismic blasting!
Seismic exploration for oil and gas involves sonar cannons firing loud explosions every 10-15 seconds. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. It’s like dynamite going off in your lounge room. Over and over and over.
It can kill scallops and tiny zooplankton more than a kilometre away. It can damage whales’ hearing and keep them away from key feeding and breeding grounds. It could even affect the immune system of lobsters.
Despite mounting evidence of the impacts on our marine life and fish stocks, deadly seismic blasting is still allowed in many of our marine parks, and in the breeding, feeding and resting areas of Australia’s unique and diverse marine life.
It’s time to take a stand!
We are calling on the Prime Minister to declare a moratorium (temporary ban) on seismic blasting in Australian waters until:
- Comprehensive research is conducted on the impacts of seismic blasting in Australian marine ecosystems, especially on endangered species like the southern right whale.
- Seismic data laws are reformed to prevent unnecessary repeated blasting by making previous seismic survey data accessible.
- Seismic blasting is banned in areas already mapped to limit repeated harm to our marine life and ecosystems.
These recommendations are based on the independent Senate inquiry in 2021, Making Waves: The Impact of Seismic Testing on Fisheries and the Marine Environment.
Add you name to the petition and help turn down the volume!
Read the petition text
DeAustralia’s oceans are home to incredible marine life found nowhere else on Earth, including endangered southern right whales and vital krill that form the foundation of the marine food web.
Yet these ecosystems are at risk from seismic blasting—a practice involving powerful airgun blasts fired every few seconds, 24 hours a day, sometimes for months.
Studies have shown seismic blasting can cause hearing loss in whales1, disrupt feeding and mating behaviors, and devastate krill populations, impacting the entire marine food chain. Despite these proven impacts, areas of the ocean like the Otway Basin have endured over 600 seismic surveys since the 1960s.
I urge you to declare an immediate moratorium (temporary ban) on seismic blasting in Australian waters until:
- Comprehensive research is conducted on the impacts of seismic blasting on Australian marine ecosystems.
- Seismic data laws are reformed to prevent repeated, profit-driven surveys.
- Seismic blasting is banned in areas already mapped to prevent unnecessary harm.
These actions align with the recommendations of the 2021 Senate inquiry report, Making Waves: The Impact of Seismic Testing on Fisheries and the Marine Environment, which called for urgent reforms to safeguard our oceans.
Prime Minister, Australia’s marine life cannot wait. Please act now to protect our oceans.
References:
1 Koper, R. P., & Plön, S. (2012). The potential impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine animals and recommendations for research in South Africa. Endangered Wildlife Trust.
2 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-017-0195
Seismic blasting harms marine life, disrupts ecosystems, and threatens fisheries. We’re calling on the Prime Minister to impose a moratorium until proper research, reforms, and protections are in place. Sign the petition and help turn down the volume!