Dear Minister Plibersek (CC Senator Duniam and Senator Whish-Wilson)

It deeply concerns me that Australia does not consider seismic exploration a threat to our marine life and that it is allowed in marine parks and areas important for our protected marine life and fisheries.

In June 2021, the Senate Inquiry into seismic testing tabled its final report. This was Australia’s first inquiry into the impacts of seismic surveying from oil and gas exploration, and the findings were clear. The Australian public, coastal communities, scientists, recreational fishers and commercial fishers are deeply concerned about the impacts of seismic testing on our marine life and local fisheries.

The committee heard an abundance of evidence detailing the risks to our oceans and fisheries from ongoing oil and gas exploration. No witness disputed that seismic testing is potentially harmful and under-researched.

Some of the key recommendations for change and reform, include: 

• significantly increasing research funding to study the full impacts of seismic testing and making oil and gas companies contribute towards this research;
• oil and gas companies should seek alternative technologies to intensive air blasts;
• making oil and gas companies pay compensation for any damages from their activities;
• better consultation with more stakeholders; and
• keeping seismic blasting away from marine parks and critical habitat for marine life.

This inquiry adds to the growing body of science that seismic exploration negatively impacts fisheries and the marine environment.

Commercial fishers contend that the sound impacts current and future catch rates. It can kill tiny zooplankton – the very basis of the ocean food chain – 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 and scallops. And there is evidence of its impact on some of our most important fisheries like whiting and flathead. 

Seismic exploration should not be permitted in areas important for our protected marine life and fisheries. I urge you to adopt the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry– strengthen regulatory processes and provide Environment Minister and departmental oversight and, most importantly, implement a ban on seismic exploration within marine parks and areas important for our protected marine life and fisheries.