Seismic testing's blasts of sound pose a threat to marine life, especially species that rely on sound. Nevertheless, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is still considering allowing seismic surveys off the North Carolina Coast.
But for now there’s a delay to allow more public comment on the procedure, as new concerns over the impact on sea life are being raised, reports Outer Banks Sentinel. Used as part of the process to decide whether offshore oil and gas drilling is feasible, the testing, says OBS, involves serveral air guns emmitting "loud blasts of compressed air through the ocean and miles under the ocean floor every 10 seconds, 24 hours a day.”
Ladd Bayliss with the North Carolina Coastal Federation told OBS she is critical of calculations that don’t consider the combined effects on sea life if multiple companies conduct testing. Eight companies have already applied for permits.
Bayliss notes a particular concern for North Atlantic Right Whales, which are among the world’s most endangered species. The number of deaths or “takes“ that Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) finds acceptable "will mean that the species will fail and become critically endangered or extinct," Bauliss told OBS. She adds that the testing can deafen a whale, and research shows that “a deaf whale is a dead whale.”
Environment North Carolina Field Director Liz Kazal told OBS that "A delay on seismic testing means one more day our marine life can live without disturbance or destruction from seismic blasting." But don’t they deserve a permanent reprieve from this destructive intrusion into their lives?
Sign this petition to demand a ban on seismic testing off the North Carolina Coast.
To the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service
According to the Outer Banks Sentinel and other reports based on results form the Navy’s use of sonar,“researchers are finding that noise can dramatically impact marine mammals at much lower decibel levels than previously thought."
According to OBS, BOEM is in the process of revising its harassment decibel guidelines to what it says is a "more lenient acoustic threshold based on their position that marine mammals are not affected until exposed to a higher decibel level.” But Bayliss says the revision is not sufficient to protect marine life from harm and death because as she noted, “there is a lot of research that shows that a deaf whale is a dead whale."
Of further concern is the Federation’s argument that BOEM is not considering the combined or overlapping effects due to multiple companies’ involvement. "They were not calculating the combined effects of the work of many different permit applicants in overlapping areas and overlapping times in the Mid-Atlantic Region,” notes Bayliss.
Also adds Bayliss, double standards are used in calculating effects of seismic testing when compared to those required of commercial fishermen.
"NMFS standards are much more strict for commercial fishing than seismic surveys," Bayliss explained. "They have cameras on their boats. This is of extreme concern to the commercial fishing industry and they have formed take-reduction teams and are mitigating wherever they can to reduce their impact."
It’s obvious that standards are being relaxed regarding seismic testing because the push for oil and gas drilling off the NC Coast is taking precedent over protection our valuable and irreplaceable sea life.
Therefore I and others signing this petition demand a permanent ban on seismic testing off the North Carolina Coast.
