Fears over impact on wildlife from gas and oil survey in Cardigan Bay

Eni UK - part of an Italian-based multinational energy company - is due to start a 40-day survey on June 1 covering an area of 955 square kilometres which will take in three Special Areas of Conservation - West Wales, Cardigan Bay and Pembrokeshire Marine.

The survey has been approved by the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in Westminster but the plan has provoked outcry among environmental groups.

Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth has written to local MPs, Assembly Members and Government Ministers urging them to oppose the plan because of its harmful impact on marine wildlife, local tourism and fishing and climate change.

Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth campaigner, Gordon James, said: “We understand that the survey area would impact on Special Areas of Conservation that are rich in wildlife and meant to be protected.

“These areas are internationally renowned for their populations of shellfish, seabirds, dolphins, porpoises and whales, all of which could be harmed by seismic activity. As if this threat was not bad enough, the company intends to begin surveying during the breeding period of certain cetaceans, leading to a significantly increased risk of injury or death to these protected species.

“In addition to ecological damage, the proposal would also inevitably disrupt fishing and tourism, which rely on a healthy marine environment and are important for local businesses and employment.

“It is indefensible that the UK government should approve of an activity that aims to extract fossil fuels from one of Britain’s most valuable marine wildlife areas just when scientists are warning of the threats of global climate catastrophe and species extinction. It would make a complete mockery of the recent declaration of a climate emergency by both the Welsh Government and the House of Commons.

“In view of the global climate and biodiversity emergencies that we face, allowing this to go ahead would be comparable to throwing petrol on a fire that is already going out of control.”

Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth is organising a petition to the Minister of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) calling on him to refuse the application from Eni UK.

The Wildlife Trusts in Wales has hit out strongly at the plans, fearing the impact on the Bottlenose dolphins in Cardigan Bay - one of only two semi-resident populations in the UK.

Staff and volunteers at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) in New Quay have been monitoring the Bottlenose dolphins and other marine mammals in Cardigan Bay for over 20 years and are seriously concerned about the effects the seismic activity will have on marine life in Cardigan Bay and the wider Irish Sea.

Nia Jones, living seas manager for the North Wales Wildlife Trust said: “It has long been known that seismic surveys, which create intensive sound underwater, can be extremely harmful to marine mammals and other wildlife.

“Man-made noise such as this can damage their hearing, their ability to communicate, disrupt their behaviour and cause extreme stress and because of this we strongly oppose this proposal”

Dr Sarah Perry, living seas manager for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales added: “The timing of the proposed survey is in the middle of the breeding period for these protected species when there is a serious risk of the young, who are far more susceptible to disturbance, being separated from their mothers.”

Ceredigion MP Ben Lake has already written to Minister for BEIS Greg Clark voicing his objections and raised the matter in Parliament on Thursday.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Lake said: “May we have an urgent statement on the Government’s policy regarding the surveying of coastal areas for potential oil and gas deposits?

“This is in the light of widespread concern at a proposal to conduct seismic surveys in areas of Cardigan Bay, which is home to the largest resident population of dolphins and porpoises in the UK.

“A statement clarifying that the Government do not support such a venture would be welcome, and it would also demonstrate the integrity of the Government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions.

Government spokesman Mark Spencer said: “I thank the honourable Gentleman for raising this important issue. I know that seismic surveys—certainly for shale gas—are a topic that many colleagues want to engage in.

“It is vital that any such survey is regulated by the Environment Agency, that there is scrutiny of all the issues as plans are moved forward, and that the planning process is completely robust so that his constituents can be confident that the right process will take place and no environmental damage will be committed.”