South African Fishers Battle Against Offshore Oil and Gas Projects

Port Nolloth’s small-scale fishers confront threats from planned offshore oil and gas exploration, initiating legal action to safeguard their livelihoods and local marine environment. Key figures like Walter Steenkamp of Aukatowa Fisheries highlight concerns regarding inadequate environmental assessments and potential climate change implications stemming from these projects. They argue for greater scrutiny of cumulative environmental impacts affecting marine life, as the community strives to protect its traditions and sustainability against fossil fuel interests.

On March 26, 2024, Port Nolloth’s fishing community faced inclement weather as strong winds churned the Atlantic Ocean. Local fishers, including Walter Steenkamp of Aukatowa Fisheries, were eager for calmer seas to return to work after prolonged downtime. Once a bustling hub for fishing and diamond mining, the village now relies heavily on small-scale fishing, with the industry facing challenges due to overharvesting.

Steenkamp, having succeeded in gaining fishing rights for small-scale fishers, now directs his efforts toward combatting proposed offshore oil and gas exploration activities. Following Shell’s seismic survey announcement in 2021, concerns grew as multiple companies received approval for exploration near Port Nolloth, including TGS Geophysical Company and Teepsa.

While South African officials, like Minister Gwede Mantashe, advocate for fossil fuel production as a means of achieving energy security, local fishers fear the environmental and economic consequences of these activities. In late 2024, Aukatowa Fisheries, supported by environmental NGOs, filed lawsuits aimed at halting these operations due to perceived inadequacies in environmental assessments.

Activist Melissa Groenik criticized the environmental impact reports for minimizing spill risks associated with oil drilling. Supporting her claims, researchers highlighted deficits in the assessments made by Teepsa and others, indicating that potential spill effects on the shoreline were likely underestimated. Groenik also expressed concern regarding the cumulative effects of concurrent seismic surveys on marine life.

Carmen Mannarino from the Masifundise Development Trust stressed the necessity of evaluating collective environmental impacts in litigation cases. Additionally, experts expressed concern that new fossil fuel projects could worsen climate change, with potential emissions from these projects eclipsing those from oil and coal once fugitive emissions are taken into account.

Contrasted with climate arguments is the legal action by coastal communities, which advocates for the postponement of detrimental energy projects. They argue that this legal push gives them time to address broader energy policy and climate actions. Steenkamp echoed these concerns, stating the adverse effects of climate change are no longer hypothetical but a reality for their livelihoods.

As fishers returned to the harbor, the community atmosphere remained vibrant. However, the lingering threat of fossil fuel exploration underscored the urgent need to protect their marine environment. Steenkamp emphasized that if the proposed fossil fuel projects proceed, they would jeopardize the very existence of their livelihood and ecosystems, urging that their final recourse may be in the courts.

The fishing community of Port Nolloth, represented by Aukatowa Fisheries, faces serious threats from planned offshore oil and gas projects mandated by various companies. Amid growing environmental concerns and the pressing implications of climate change, local fishers are taking legal action to protect their livelihoods and the marine ecosystem. The balance between energy production and environmental preservation remains delicate, as stakeholders evaluate potential long-term consequences. The fight against fossil fuels has thus evolved into a crucial battle for survival for Steenkamp and his colleagues, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices.

Original Source: dialogue.earth