Marine Connection welcomes the news that Eni UK, an international energy company has suspended its application to carry out an oil and gas survey in Cardigan Bay, Wales, UK. The area has a large resident population of bottlenose dolphins and hundreds of porpoises.
In March, Eni UK had applied for permission to carry out the 3D seismic geological survey, between 1 June and 30 September, covering 955 square kilometres, and taking in three Special Areas of Conservation: West Wales, Cardigan Bay and Pembrokeshire Marine. The survey had been approved by the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in Westminster (London) but it provoked outcry and opposition from local MPs, environmental/conservation groups including Marine Connection.
To survey the ocean floor, ships tow air guns, which compress and then explosively release air every 10 seconds or so for several hours, day after day. The resulting sound waves travel down to the seafloor and reverberate back to receivers also towed by the ships. The echoes reveal where there may be reservoirs of oil and gas under the seafloor and although regulations exist to limit blasts when marine mammals are near, it’s currently unclear whether the measures are sufficient.
