Shell to blast the Wild Coast during Whale Migration Season
At a time when world leaders are making promises and decisions to step away from fossil fuels because climate science has shown we cannot burn our existing reserves (let alone drill for more), offshore oil and gas Operation Phakisa is pushing ever harder to get its hands on a local supply of gas. Shell must answer for how the harms done during this survey and any exploration drilling done hereafter are part of its energy transition plan to control global warming.
Below you will see the notice that was placed today( 2 Nov 2021).
Project Reference: 720.19161.00001 File Ref. Shell Transkei Survey Notification Letter 29Oct21
29 October 2021
Dear Sir/Madam,
SHELL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION SOUTH AFRICA – NOTIFICATION OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF A 3D SEISMIC SURVEY IN THE TRANSKEI EXPLORATION AREA OFF THE EAST COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA
Notice is hereby given that Shell Exploration and Production South Africa has appointed Shearwater GeoServices to commence with a three-dimensional (3D) seismic survey within its Transkei Exploration Area off the East Coast of South Africa from the earliest on 01 December 2021.
The survey will be undertaken under Exploration Right 12/3/252 and will cover an area of approximately 6 011 km2 located roughly between Port St Johns and Morgans Bay. The survey area is located more than 20 km from the coast at its closest point in water depths ranging between 700 and 3 000 m (refer to locality plan in Attachment A). It is anticipated that the seismic survey would take in the order of four to five months to complete, depending on weather and current conditions.
Under the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, a seismic survey vessel that is engaged in surveying is defined as a “vessel restricted in its ability to manoeuvre”, which requires that power- driven and sailing vessels give way to a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre. Vessels engaged in fishing are kindly requested to, so far as possible, keep out of the way of the seismic operation. Furthermore, under the Marine Traffic Act of 1981, a seismic survey vessel and its seismic array is protected by a 500 m safety exclusion zone.
Capricorn Marine Environmental has been appointed to provide the Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO), Marine Mammal Observers (MMO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) services for the duration of the survey. Should you have any queries on the above, or require any further information on the planned survey, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.
Your sincerely,
Eloise Costandius
SLR Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd Email: ecostandius@slrconsulting.com
SMS / WhatsApp: 063 900 5536
Oceans Not Oil 
This is scandalous…I am shocked….but the new world is coming fast and all the crooks will be depossessed of all stolen land and goods and it will be redistributed…the courtcases have started already acu2020 is very busy…also I know we can purifie air, earth and water pretty quick so that balance returns.
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I would like to condemn the project regarding the role of Shell as well as the SA Government. May sound moral judgment and principles prevail.
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Stop this horrendous practice. Save our ocean.
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I object to this survey
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To Shell,
If you do this the damage will be more than the money’s worth.
Damage to the innocent ocean life and trust in your Shell brand will be ruïned for generations to come.
Let’s go solar and drive electric cars. The sun energy is already freely available to all.
Please stop this destruction of our oceans !!!!
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I strongly object to the proposal that Shell should use seismic exploration along the coast of South Africa. If that was done anywhere along the coasts of Europe there would be a monumental public outcry regarding the environmental damage. Shame on the South African government for passing permission for this vandalism, especially in view of our increasing understanding of the importance of our seas in the fight against global warming.
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NO to this!! DONT KILL THE WORLD!!
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The attempt by Shell to keep this under the radar with the assistance of Gwede Mantashe is despicable and is indicative of a hidden agenda. It must be stopped at least and until the issue has been properly aired in the media at large and the public afforded an opportunity to consider the consequences.
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As an interested and affected party I would like it noted that that I object to the planned Seismic surveys that have been granted to Shell along our entire coastline. The one going ahead on 1 Dec and the others being planned is against my will and the will of the marine life.
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This is crazy. We cannot allow our coast to be damaged like this by Shell. Please note my objection
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This is sheer disregard for the connectedness of life on our shared and threatened planet. I’m astounded that it has been approved. PLEASE .STOP. NOW.
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Please, please leave our oceans alone. Our earth is being destroyed by greed. Will anything of beauty in the natural world be left ?
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If it is NOT a harmful exercise to Marine life, why was it kept so quiet. Secrecy about any kind of exercise especially of this magnitude almost always have negative connotations. Who in our greedy government agreed for this to go ahead?
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I think this is an absolute disgrace and against all the work that is being done to protect our oceans and our wildlife. I thought that Shell would be a company with a good environmental ethic. I am totally disappointed and horrified at their action.
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We need to stand together and prevent this hideous thing fron happening. “Shell” needs to realise there are more important things in life than money.
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This blasting program in search of new sources of oil is a crime against nature. As we know from the U.S. Navy underwater noise blasting, is extremely detrimental to sea life, mammals in particular. Dolphins and whales suffer and die from this practice. It is a crime against nature!
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Sea life is prescious to us. I say NO to Shell.
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I object to the proposed exploration by Shell due to the harmful impact it may have on our marine ecosystem along the Wild Coast…
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Shell. Come now, expand your renewable energy business, leave our pristine coast line alone. dont touch it
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Fossil fuels are no longer players in the energy game, this is yesterday’s energy! We MUST use renewable energy NOW!!! South Africa IS the place for RENEWABLE ENERGY! Let’s DO IT NOW!
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For the sake of all that’s natural and good and wholesome, keep your hands off this stretch of the world. Leave the creatures and their homes in peace and let us continue to appreciate and be amazed, curious and in awe about our seas.
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please don’t harm our natural resources.
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I object this survey !!!
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I absolutely object to Shell’s exploration blasting program.
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Save our beauiful heritage, we stand as one for our ocean to be protected from shell or any drilling,blasting. We have protected no fishing areas alongthis coast.
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When you have destroyed our beautiful earth, no money or power can reinstate it. Stop this madness. Mart Leeuwner.
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Leave our oceans and all our majestic sea animals alone!!!! They have done nothing to deserve such cruelty!!!! I say no to chell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Protect the whales and other marine life stop this madness!!!
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I oppose new drilling, old drilling and pipelines! Oil companies should be switching to solar and wind energy!
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This is nothing more than corporate greed and callous disregard for the natural resources it seeks to obtain. The ends do not justify the means. The impact on the planet is not worth it. Your grandchildren and great grandchildren etc will be burdened by your actions, and money won’t save them.
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Scandelous destruction of our heritage for generations to come. One can’t help but wonder who paid whom and how much?
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I OBJECT THIS SURVEY!!! Leave the ocean alone.
Stop damaging our planet and let everyone live in peace. Let’s the care of our planet , not destroy it.
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Leave the ocean as it is
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Shell must be stopped, if not they will have blood on their hands and generations will vilify them
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We don’t have Sasol going to their countries and doing this nonsense, but our government allows all of this to happen in our country
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They should not be allowed to damage nature like that
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This is beyond shocking. PLEASE dont allow Shell to get away with doing this. I will never fill up again at a Shell petrol station … Please protect the Wild Coast .
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I can tell shell is part of corruption. They no longer have my support.
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What is wrong with the intelligence of these people? If you cannot see that the world and its resources are in serious geaprody, you need to be tested, eyes and brain waves.
These money greedy idiots need to be stopped and no i am not appologising for what i am saying as if they intelligence and integrity we would not be doing this exercise.
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I’m not going to enter into a discussion with you because I think that would be pointless with your viewpoint. Instead, please simply post on this Site, what Shell has done to protect our environment and what they have done to alleviate poverty in SA. To the best of my knowledge, the answer is a big, fat ZERO !
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I am shocked and disgusted.
I certainly don’t want you and your Shell anywhere near our coastline and our ocean.
It does not belong to you – and what actually does, will be taken from you too.
I will never again support any Shell-operated entity or subsidiary. That may not mean anything to you now – but it will, one day.
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I object
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Horrendous Shocking Deplorable actions!!! Oh
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Horrendous Shocking Deplorable actions!!! Oh
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The South African Government claims to be a caring one.
They are anything but.
There is no respect for human dignity, with the endless corruption scandals. Why then, will they care about our oceans? All they care about are their bank balances, regardless of how they achieve that end.
The power ships, an alternate form of power for electricity, duly signed of by ol’ Gweezie (Mantashe), without public participation.
A dinosaur who persists in fossil fuels.
This useless government must take their citizens into their confidence.
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This development is in contrast with president Ramaposa’s message at COP26 during which he said that SA should move away from Fossil fuels as a energy source and focus on renewable energy sources in future.
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Why was this kept undercover? Answer is simple Shell knows this is wrong. So did the south African government get paid off. I will absolutely boycott She’ll, and my friends will also. What is going on with this thinking. The constant seismic blasting will damage all sea creatures within hundreds of miles from this area, southeast coast of Africa. The population of the Right whales is endangered. Because people are greedy, and money mongrels the planet gets screwed up, and animals die. Another whale turned up dead on this coast very recently. How barbaric and cruel.
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This needs to be stoped we need to stand united and stop these murderous bastareds
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NO NO NO Shell is disgraceful!! They must stop destroying our oceans, our planet. Marine life is precious, all lives in this planet are precious. It’s time to stop these greedy, destructive, deplorable corrupt corporations!!
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When will they be held accountable?!
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