03 Jul 2007 - Moscow,
Russia – Noise pollution from a gas and
oil project in the Russia Far East is the
likely cause behind critically endangered
western gray whales abandoning their only
known feeding area.
The installation of a platform by Sakhalin
Energy at Shell’s Sakhalin II project site
has resulted in constant, high noise levels
underwater for over two days.
A WWF monitoring team has been able to
feel the vibrations of the construction
work at their base onshore. The ships that
are involved in the platform construction
12km offshore make low-frequency noise that
may affect the feeding patterns of the whales
and harm their auditory system, which is
crucial for their orientation capability.
The whales are normally seen feeding adjacent
to the shore.
“Shell has been warned by experts of the
need to limit both the duration and level
of noise, but the company will not let protecting
the whales interfere with its construction
schedule,” said James Leaton, WWF’s Oil
and Gas Policy Advisor.
"There are only around 100 western
gray whales remaining in the world, any
impact on the population could be catastrophic
for its future viability."
Scientists recently confirmed that just
one extra female gray whale death per year
would be likely to result in their extinction.
WWF is also concerned that more ‘skinny’
or emaciated whales were seen last year
than any year since 2001 as it suggests
disruption of feeding.
Sakhalin II is the world's largest combined
oil and natural gas development project
and involves the installation of an offshore
platform on an existing oil field and the
installation of a single platform on a gas
field. These platforms, as well as one other,
will be linked to the shore by offshore
pipelines. The oil and gas will then be
transported via 800km of onshore pipelines
to Prigorodnoye, in the south of Sakhalin
Island and the export terminals.
An expert panel has been convened to advise
Shell on the whale issue. However, the most
recent meeting was hindered by Shell failing
to provide adequate information on previous
noise levels or on future construction plans.
As a result, Shell is operating without
following the best scientific advice.
“Shell needs to halt operations while the
noise levels are investigated," Leaton
added. "Otherwise, Shell could be responsible
for the extinction of the western gray whale.”
END NOTES:
• Shell has only released summary data
for the weekend (30 June–1 July 2007), which
shows that the average hourly noise levels
for two days were around 120dB. This is
likely to have resulted in excessive exposure
for the whales in terms of either a high
level of noise or the duration of noise.
• Sakhalin II–Gazprom is the majority shareholder
(50% plus one share) in Sakhalin Energy
Investment Company Ltd. Shell continues
to be the operator of this project responsible
for its construction.
• Shell continues to refuse to release
draft oil spill response plans for the project,
despite repeated calls from stakeholders.
The unstable ice conditions that prevail
for six months of the year render normal
response mechanisms useless. With original
timetables indicating winter oil production
less than six months away, this is unacceptable.
• ABN Amro have been criticised for their
role in financing the Sakhalin II project
without paying adequate attention to environmental
and social issues. ABN Amro has provided
a US$1 billion loan to finance Gazprom’s
entry into the project, but has this type
of deal is not covered by any environmental
due diligence.
Alexandra Hartridge, Press Officer
WWF-UK
+ More
New nature reserve for Russian Arctic
05 Jul 2007 - Murmansk, Russia – A new
nature reserve has been approved for Vaigach
Island in the western Russian Arctic by
the Nenets Autonomous District administration.
The new 243,000-hectare nature reserve
will help protect threatened arctic species
such as polar bears, Atlantic walrus, white-beak
loon, and one of the region's largest mass
nestings of waterfowls.
The island is surrounded by the Barents
and Kara seas and its coastal waters are
frequented by a number of marine mammals
including Atlantic walrus, grey seal, harbour
porpoise, bottlenose dolphin, humpback whale,
northern blue whale, northern fin whale
and sei whale. In recent years the numbers
many of these species has become unstable.
WWF assisted in the creation of the nature
reserve, which took two years to complete.
It is hoped that the new protected area
status will help protect the island from
increasing industrial development in the
region.
“We are satisfied that one of the most
valuable places in the Russian Arctic is
now under protection," said Oleg Sutkaitis,
project coordinator of WWF's Barents Sea
Ecoregion office.
"We hope to continue our success and
develop more protected areas in the Nenets
Autonomous District.”
Vaigach Island is also culturally significant
for the indigenous Nenets people who have
visited the island for thousands of years
to worship their gods. The main Nenets sacred
site is on Cape Dyakonov, where an idol
depicting the seven-faced Vesako (the head
of all Nenets deities) is surrounded by
hundreds of small wood and stone idols.
Tatiana Baeva, Communication Officer
Barents Sea Ecoregional Project, WWF-Russia.
