Press Release - immediate - Press Release
-
Date: 20/12/2007 21:40:33 GMT Standard Time
We Saved Our Sea, for now
SOS are in a cautiously optimistic mood following the news
that Cardigan Bay is unlikely to see any exploration for oil
and gas in the near future. Today (Thursday 20th December)
the newly formed Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory
Reform released a draft environmental report that said not
enough was known about the dolphins in the bay to grant licences.
It states 'On account of uncertainties about the size, distribution
and location of the resident population of bottlenose dolphins
within the Cardigan Bay Natura 2000 site, this assessment
does not presently support the granting of consent...This
conclusion may be revisited once new data becomes available.'
The assessment on Cardigan Bay concluded that lack of knowledge
about the dolphins living there meant that it would be hard
to put in place measures to avoid disturbing them. The only
other bottlenose dolphin population in UK waters were not
so lucky. The assessment for the Moray Firth was in favour
of allowing licensing on the basis that the dolphins there
were better studied and so measures could be made that would
reduce the impact.
SOS have campaigned vigorously against the proposals since
July 2006. Their lively efforts to stop drilling have included
singing carols, an on-line petition, and most recently sending
Christmas cards from the dolphins to the Minister for Energy.
SOS were concerned that noise, pollution, and increased boat
traffic would affect the dolphins, seals and porpoise that
live in Cardigan Bay. They also highlighted how visual intrusion
from rigs could impact on the tourist industry based on the
coast.
Leila Kiersch spokesperson for the group said "Naturally
we are delighted that all out hard work appears to have paid
off. However, this is still a draft assessment and it is possible
they could overturn this decision. We are disappointed that
rather than accept that oil and gas exploration causes environmental
damage and contributes to climate change, they have halted
plans for now due to lack of information. We won't celebrate
until we have a firm NO to drilling, not just now but into
the future." She concluded "This is a small victory
for SOS but it could not have been achieved without the help
of our MP Mark Williams, Mick Green from the Whale and Dolphin
Conservation Society, Friends of Cardigan Bay and all those
locally who have given their generous support."
ENDS
SOS CONTACTS
Leila Kiersch: 01974 261340; 07817 837314; leila@werdd.gotadsl.co.uk
Website: www.savecardigan bay.org.uk
SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION
Government sites:
http://www.offshore-sea.org.uk/site/index.php
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=340406&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=True
Enquiries from journalists should always be directed to the
BERR Press Office, either as per the IPO Directory (White
Book) or via the Enquiry Unit on 020 7215 5000. The out-of-hours
number for urgent press enquiries is 020 7215 3505
Media sites:
http://media.netpr.pl/notatka_90943.html
http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Environment&F=1&id=12875
--
Blog: http://leila.blogdns.net
Email: leila@werdd.gotadsl.co.uk
Tel: 01974 261340
PRIZE WINNERS
SUMMER 2007
WILDLIFE IDENTIFICATION COMPETITION
NEWPORT
PEMBROKESHIRE
Congratulations to:-
Junior winner
11yr old Sarah from Newport
Adult winner
Alan from Dorking
And many thanks to all those who supported
us by taking part!
Now or never to stop drilling
Members of SOS used their AGM last Saturday to warn members
of the public that the time left to stop drilling in Cardigan
Bay is running out. The Department of Business, Enterprise
and Regulatory Reform (formerly the Dept. of Trade and Industry)
is reported to be close to deciding on licence applications
for oil and gas exploration.
SOS was started last year by local people who are concerned
that any exploration could harm breeding bottlenose dolphins,
ruin the scenery, and impact on the growing eco-tourism trade.
Leila Kiersch, spokesperson, said at the meeting 'If other
local people are also worried about this proposal we must
warn them now that they need to write to Malcolm Wicks. Large
organisations are doing their best but Ministers also have
to know that there is strong local opposition. It is great
that we have collected 5,000 signatures against the drilling
but writing a letter to the Minister has far more impact."
Mick Green from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
agreed, saying "Ministers pay far more attention when
they receive local letters of objection".
Any exploration in Cardigan Bay could result in rigs within
2 miles of the shore from New Quay. The campaigners fear that
debris and waste materials from drilling could smother the
seabed and release toxic chemicals into the sea. As well as
dolphins, harbour porpoise and grey seals could be affected.
Any harm to these local populations could have a wider impact,
with recent news of a decline in the dolphins in the Bay of
Biscay.
Elly Foster, SOS Chair, thanked MP Mark Williams for his
support but also mentioned that others had not been so helpful
"We have tried to enlist help from our AM's, our Euro
MP, our County Council, the Welsh Tourist Board and CCW as
well as from lots of celebrities. We are still waiting for
a discussion date from our County Counci1.
CCW [is finally] responding in a more negative manner to
the DTI's original Appropriate Assessment, resulting in Cardigan
Bay's blocks being removed until another assessment is done."
As the new environmental assessment is expected to be released
soon SOS members warned that it could be now or never to save
the bay.
- - ENDS - -
SOS Contact - Leila Kiersch, Spokesperson -
Tel: 01974 261340
mobile: 07817 837314
SOS was founded in July 2006 following reports in the local
press of the renewed attempts to grant licences for oil and
gas exploration in Cardigan Bay. Three blocks have been applied
for in Cardigan Bay, all three are wholly or partially within
the Special Area of Conservation. The SAC gives extended environmental
protection under the European Habitats Directive. The one
in Cardigan Bas was granted due to the presence of Bottlenose
Dolphins, Harbour Porpoises, Sea and River Lamprey, and Sea
Caves. The habitats directive states that a competent authority
must carry out a full impartial assessment of any risks from
proposed development before consent can be given. Consent
may only be given where it can be shown that no detrimental
impacts will be had on the listed features / species. Where
this cannot be shown the impacts must be mitigated and consent
can only be granted where the development is necessary in
the interests of protecting the environment, human health
or public safety.
An appropriate assessment for the 24th Seaward licensing round
was released in January 2007, it excluded the three blocks
in Cardigan Bay and one in the Moray Firth due to concerns
raised about the impact on the resident dolphin populations.
A further Appropriate Assessment was scheduled to take place
for these sites. It has yet to be released.
Further Information:
SOS: www.savecardiganbay.org.uk
Dept of Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform: www.berr.gov.uk
Strategic Environmental Assessment: www.offshore-sea.org.uk
The 'Action Day' in New Quay
on Easter Saturday was very successful. The holiday makers
and local people were almost without exception extremely interested
in our campaign and appalled at the Department of Trade and
Industry for even considering the siting of drilling rigs
in the Special areas of Conservation in Cardigan Bay.
We received many verbal messages of encouragement to continue
with the campaign, and over 500 signatures were added to the
hand written petition during day, in addition a further 23
petition forms were added to the on line total over the next
two days.
Over 100 of the campaign badges were sold in aid of campaign
funds to be used in the continuation of our fight to make
the DTI reverse their decision .
The extracts below, are from an article by
Dylan Davies, which appeared in the Pembrokeshire
County Echo on 16th March 2007
A group of 17 youngsters from all over Pembrokeshire said
they were 'dismayed' after travelling to London last week
to raise concerns over proposed oil Drilling in Cardigan Bay.
The delegation of young people met with the Energy Minister,
Lord Truscott, in London to question him on the urgent need
to find solutions to climate change and to raise their concerns
about proposed oil and gas drilling in Cardigan Bay, which
they say they were told will be decided in the next two months.
The group was accompanied by local MP Stephen Crabb who had
requested the meeting with the minister following his own
meeting with the young people at Pembrokeshire College in
December where he had been grilled by them on his views about
energy and environmental policy.
Following the meeting Mr Crabb said ' Although I have not
opposed the Cardigan Bay exploration I do think that the environmental
issues and questions raised today need some real answers from
the government before any permission is given for drilling.
The young people put forward some very strong arguments which
have certainly given me cause to think long and hard about
the matter.
Professor George Monbiot
Investigative author, and column writer for the Guardian newspaper:
How can the Government claim to be dealing with climate change
while permitting new oil and gas exploration around our coasts?
The drilling in Cardigan Bay goes against all its commitments
to the environment, both locally and globally. As a new resident
of West Wales, I am hereby opposed to this counter-productive
development.
John Davies
Liberal Democrat Candidate for Welsh Assembly Elections:
I support the SOS campaign against the plans to drill for
oil and gas in Cardigan Bay one hundred percent.
Mark Williams
MP for Ceredigion:
I fully support the SOS campaign against the Department of
Trade and Industry plans to allow drilling for oil and gas
in the Special areas of Conservation in Cardigan Bay
Local man joins march against oil drilling
A Goodwick man who objects to proposals to drill for oil in
Cardigan Bay travelled to Aberystwyth last week to join 100
other protesters and make their feelings known.
