AusLeisure

Every year, the third Sunday in February is celebrated as World Whale Day. With World Whale Day taking place today, it also marks 45 years since the end of commercial whaling in Australia. But whales now face new threats, including climate change and expansion of offshore gas and oil extraction in Australian coastal waters.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific notes that Australia must take urgent action to protect marine life this World Whale Day, as "gas goliath Woodside Energy prepares to launch a large-scale assault of seismic blasting in Western Australia.”

Western Australia’s Woodside Energy yesterday closed its public consultation process on its seismic blasting plan for its controversial Burrup Hub offshore gas project off the Pilbara coast.

If approved, Woodside could start releasing underwater sound explosions almost immediately, near the UNESCO-protected Ningaloo Reef and important whale migration routes. It would be permitted at any time of day or night.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific senior campaigner Richard George said seismic blasting could have a catastrophic impact on whales.

George shares “This Sunday, communities around the globe are celebrating our beloved whales. Meanwhile, Woodside is planning destructive seismic blasting which could injure and kill these harmless and majestic creatures.”

The process uses underwater airguns to blast powerful sound waves towards the seabed to identify fossil fuel reservoirs beneath the ocean floor.

“For creatures who rely on the clear transmission of underwater sound to communicate with their pods and therefore stay alive, massive disruptions like these sonic blasts could have dire consequences,” George added.

“A deaf whale is a dead whale. A lost calf is a dead calf.

“Australia has come a long way in protecting whales, but Woodside is still living in the dark ages. Woodside’s plan to drill for gas and seismic blast in endangered whale habitat puts short-term greed above the long-term health of our oceans, coastal communities and global climate.

“If we are serious about protecting whales, we need swift regulatory action to put an end to Woodside’s dangerous Burrup Hub.”

Image. Credit: WWF

Related Articles

27th June 2022 - Specialist whale stranding training conducted by Sea World team

13th June 2022 - Anantara Doha launches whale shark experience and reopens surf pool

27th October 2021 - NSW National Parks remind boat and jet ski operators to observe whale watching distance regulations

3rd October 2021 - Whale Watching set to restart in Jervis Bay

10th September 2021 - Campaign launched to highlight risks to Exmouth Gulf humpback whales from proposed industrial port

24th August 2021 - Study cites need for global guidelines and stricter regulations for swim-with-whale tourism experiences

24th April 2021 - Whale watchers encouraged but required to observe distance regulations

1st July 2019 - Australian Marine Conservation Society calls for protection of whales against renewed Japanese hunting

30th January 2019 - Research shows industrialisation will threaten the survival of Ningaloo humpback whales

16th May 2018 - Rising humpback population prompts early start for whale-watching season

9th June 2015 - Whales commence seasonal migration along East Coast of Australia

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.