Civil organisations oppose oil exploration
SDCEA, KZNSFF and other civil groups gathered to try to halt a seismic survey programme.
IN AN act of solidarity, environmental and community organisations went out along various coastlines to make their voices heard on Sunday, January 23.
The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) together with the KZN Subsistence Fisherfolk Forum (KZNSFF) and other civil groups gathered to halt a seismic survey programme. 
According to SDCEA, the programme involves an Australian exploration company along South Africa’s West Coast that jeopardises the livelihoods of many fishers and communities.
In a statement, the organisation said this is against the backdrop of Shell being ordered to halt its seismic survey programme just a month ago on the Wild and East coasts.
“Oil exploration will hurt the environment and the community. The government has leased out 95% of the ocean to oil and gas drilling and mining. What will be left for future generations, if we continue to let this happen? There are no significant economic benefits to offshore oil drilling.
“Many of the companies that intend to drill are international and are willing to risk the health and beauty in South Africa, but reap the benefits themselves. We are asking the government to rather focus on a Just Transition and rebuilding the tourism and recreation industry to create jobs.
“They need to also protect the rights of subsistence fishers, swimmers, surfers and all ocean users who will be drastically affected by this unsustainable development.
“The ocean is our heritage and it needs to be used in a sustainable manner that does not cause harm for future generations to endure,” said SDCEA’s project officer, Cassandra Schnoor.
Chairperson of the KZNSFF, Rishi Ganes, told the SUN at Cuttings Beach in Merebank, that the oil and gas exploration will have a major impact on fishermen and their livelihoods.
He said the project will do extensive damage to the ocean, which is why it was imperative to take a stand as early as they have.
“This project will destroy fish stocks and damage the ocean. There will be many more problems in the ocean caused by the impact on drilling.
“The people who fish for a living will be the ones most affected, they will lose their fish stock because it will be damaged. A lot of other species will migrate to new areas which will impact us adversely,” he said.
For more information on the work that SDCEA is doing around oil and gas exploration or how you can get involved in the fight, email cassandra@sdceango.co.za.
