Growing concerns continue to mount over oil and gas operations negatively impacting the marine protected areas (MPAs). Even before drilling commences, these activities may inflict damage on fragile sea life. Environmentalist Andy Tagholm points out that even preliminary activities, such as seismic airgun surveys taken during the exploration phase, pose significant threat to the marine biodiversity.
1. There are increasing concerns over the negative impact of oil and gas operations in marine protected areas.
2. Even before drilling, these activities can cause damage to sensitive marine life.
3. Environmentalist Andy Tagholm highlights that preliminary activities, such as seismic airgun surveys, pose a significant threat to marine biodiversity.
4. These surveys emit loud underwater sound blasts, which can harm sea creatures, especially those like whales and dolphins that use sound to navigate, communicate and find food.
5. Noise disturbances from these activities can force marine animals to flee their natural habitats, disrupting the ecosystem in marine protected areas.
According to a comprehensive global study, 6% of all marine protected areas (MPAs) are facing the threat of industrial-scale oil and gas extraction activities.
Seismic airgun surveys are used to map out potential oil and gas reserves beneath the ocean floor, according to Tagholm. These surveys emit incredibly loud blasts of sound underwater, which can disrupt marine life in multiple ways. The sounds can cause physical harm to certain species, particularly those that use sound to navigate, communicate, and find food, such as whales and dolphins. Furthermore, these noise disturbances can also force marine animals to flee from their natural habitats, resulting in a significant disruption to the ecosystem in MPAs. Hence, even the anticipation of drilling activities poses serious threats to marine protected areas and their inhabitants.