Oil and gas exploration work in the Russian Far East has concerned WWF charity officials, as it may be the root cause to why many of the endangered Western Grey Whales have fled the area. With only an estimated 130 of these whales left in the world, this feeding area is vital to their survival. Added to the fact that there are only 30 breeding females left on the planet, this work by the Russian oil and gas company Rosneft couldn’t come at a worse time.
WWF’s whale expert, Wendy Elliott, said –
This is a critical problem as the whales have only a short time in which to consume enough food to last them through the year when they migrate to their breeding and calving grounds.
Rosneft began tests and installing offshore equipment for it’s major survey in August 2010. Only weeks after the survey started, Western Grey Whales who frequent the area have only been seen migrating across the area – not feeding. Rosneft started these surveys near Sakhalin Island even though a number of the female whales and their calves were feeding in the area. This was also despite repeated calls from 12 governments, scientists and the general public to postpone the survey due to the risks to the whales.
The surveys are being taken to detect oil and gas deposits under the ocean floor by blasting the water with acoustic noise. Rosneft has also twice conducted these seismic surveys at night, which is not only in violation of international standards, but also the companies own guidelines!
Oil & Gas Environmental Policy officer for WWF Russia, Aleksey Knizhnikov, said –
Rosneft is irresponsibly insisting on conducting this survey when they could easily postpone the survey until next year and hold it before the whales arrive. Rosneft may be ignoring public outcry but their negligent behaviour will not be forgotten, and they will have to be held responsible for any harm that comes to the whales as a result of these surveys.
In August, WWF Russia issued a letter of concern to Russian environmental authorities, whilst more than 10,000 people have sent Rosneft emails requesting an immediate stop to testing in the area. Yet even after all this, Rosneft continues to shut out public opposition and continue their ongoing work in the area. WWF officials will be monitoring the tests from boats near Sakhalin Island and how it affects the feeding whales, plus with a new president at Rosneft’s being drafted in recently, WWF will be urging him to postpone the seismic testing and let the animals feed in piece.
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