LOCAL residents joined hundreds of protesters across the province on Sunday to voice their objection to Shell’s planned seismic survey on the Wild Coast.

The petroleum giant is planning a 3D seismic survey off of the Wild Coast to explore potential hydrocarbon reserves beneath the seabed, which environmentalist groups say is detrimental to marine life.  

Residents gathered along the uMhlanga Promenade with signs that read: ‘To hell with Shell’ and ‘Hands of our oceans’.

They said they would not be deterred by a high court ruling on Friday which dismissed an urgent application to stop the surveys.

The CEO of Oceans Alive Conservation Trust, Colin Levin, told Northglen News that he fears the surveys would destroy the habitat and harm the marine environment of the Wild Coast, which runs along the Eastern Cape province.

Sibaya resident, Johann Jensen echoed Levin’s comments.

“We’ve already seen the adverse effect that climate change has had on coral reefs around the world. Now we are allowing harmful tests that will impact our marine life and environment. It cannot be allowed to go ahead,” Jensen said. 

Shell’s spokesperson, Pam Ntaka was adamant that it was going ahead with the survey.

“Shell has a long experience in collecting seismic data and the welfare of wildlife is a major factor in the stringent controls we use, strictly following the international guidelines of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. These are based on decades of global scientific research,” Ntaka said.

Ntaka noted that Shell would take great care to prevent or minimise impacts on fish, marine mammals and other wildlife, adding that if the survey was not safe, Shell would not proceed with it based on its deep commitment to safety and the environment.