Seismic oil exploration is causing serious damage to ecosystems in the Argentine sea. This is stated by an investigation carried out by Greenpeace, in which a decrease in whales is determined, which are exposed to death by drowning, stranding and the absence of copulation groups and mothers with young.
“Behind the backs of the Argentines, permits were granted to bomb almost the entire continental shelf until 2025,” says Luisina Vueso, coordinator of Greenpeace’s Campaign for the Protection of the Argentine Sea.
The report named Impact of seismic exploration on cetaceans in the Argentine Sea, published by the environmental organization, in addition to another titled Impacts of seismic surveys in the San Jorge Gulf area, made by César Augusto Gribaudo, from the Museo Educativo Patagónico, exclusively for Greenpeace, show the state of vulnerability of cetaceans in the face of the threat of acoustic bombardment by the hydrocarbon industry.
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“The biodiversity of the Argentine sea was more abandoned than ever. According to the research, this activity represents serious impacts for fauna, which has caused a dramatic decrease in whale sightings in their natural habitats. However, at the end of last year, permits were granted to the oil industry to bomb almost the entire continental shelf until 2025.“, Vueso stated.
The study on the case of the Gulf of San Jorge, a place shared by the provinces of Santa Cruz and Chubut, showed that in this area, during the time of seismic activity, there was a significant drop in sightings of cetaceans in their natural habitats. In addition, in one of the periods there was a drastic reduction in copulation groups and mothers with calves, disappearing completely from the zone.
Sighting reduction
Specifically, the report refers to the prospecting and subsequent phases where in 2008, 173 whales were observed in the Gulf, however, the following year, after the seismic operation, 92 were recorded and in 2010 only 46.
According to Greenpeace, seismic exploration it generates constant acoustic bombardments, as powerful as the launch of a space rocket, rounds that cause affections in the physical and behavioral system of cetaceans.
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As far as behavior is concerned, the consequences can be stress, changes in vocalizations, displacement of important habitats for mating or foraging by noise avoidance. Also, in physical terms, they can suffer massive injuries, death by drowning and stranding.
The report indicates that the power of the noise can cause hearing impairment. Between 36 and 57 percent of dolphins or toothed whales found stranded or entangled have profound hearing loss.
“The fact that seismic exploration represents the second largest contributor of underwater noise generated by man, only behind military explosions, including nuclear ones, is reason enough for the government to stop the advance of this activity over the Argentine sea, abandon hydrocarbon operations and prioritize a transition to clean energy “, concluded Vueso.
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