Drilling for gas has been approved in endangered whale habitat

Despite overwhelming opposition, approval to drill up to six gas exploration wells has been approved in undisclosed locations between Victoria and Tasmania.

These sites overlap with a proposed seismic blasting project and border the Zeehan Commonwealth Marine Park—putting endangered southern right whales, pygmy blue whales, and vital marine ecosystems at risk.

This approval follows intense public pressure, including from our community, that forced the original plans to be scaled back, removing drilling from inside the Zeehan Commonwealth Marine Park.

While this was a significant win, the fight is far from over—drilling on either side of this protected area still poses a serious threat.

Every offshore gas exploration project begins with seismic blasting.

To stop future drilling and expansion, we need to push for a moratorium on seismic blasting now!

Seismic exploration 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 loungeroom. 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.

For years, communities along the Victorian and Tasmanian coasts have fought and won against seismic blasting. And in January, the largest seismic blasting project ever proposed for  Australian waters – PEP11 off the NSW coast – was withdrawn.

We’ve done it before, and together, we can do it again.

We won’t stop until our oceans are protected. Thank you for standing with us.

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