National hates Dolphins

We all should know by now that the iconic Maui's dolphin is on the brink of extinction, with only 55 adults remaining. That's why it's highly important to try and reduce any harmful industry activity the mammals are or could be exposed to, or so you would think.

Instead of listening to the scientists on this matter, the National led government is determined to undertake oil exploration and drilling in the critically endangered dolphins habitat. This is despite the proposed oil and gas industry activity being proven to be harmful to mammals.

Today, Stuff reported:

The Green Party says mineral mining permits have been granted across a third of a marine sanctuary inhabited by Maui's Dolphins.

Today the party released maps comparing sightings of the endangered mammals with areas where mining companies have been granted exploration permits on the west coast of the North Island.

The maps show there have been 254 sightings of the dolphins.

There's no doubt that the government's decision will result in more dolphin deaths.

Instead of treating another sentient being with the respect it deserves, National will allow a risky business to undertake dangerous activity that will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on Maui's dolphin's, pushing them even closer to extinction.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges said the Government had taken steps to tighten regulation around mineral exploration, and the permits were for prospecting, with more onerous requirements if the companies elected to progress to drilling.

"Using an evidence-based approach there has been no harm to Maui's Dolphins [from mineral exploration]", Bridges told Radio New Zealand.

This is another blatant lie by a National MP. The negative effect on mammals like the Maui's dolphin's from seismic testing is well documented. There are also a number of studies showing how drilling waste and petroleum-based substances have an adverse effect on whales and dolphins. Here's one of them (PDF).

It’s simply not good enough for Simon Bridges to claim that there's no evidence when there obviously is. He's a Minister of the Crown after all and should at least have a basic understanding of what the scientific research (PDF) is saying.

Instead, the dishonest Energy and Resources Minister appears to be no more than a sock-puppet for the oil and gas industry, which is yet another good reason to change the government come the September general election.

Driving Maui’s to extinction

If you happened to watch parliaments question time yesterday, you would have seen a particularly arrogant display of bravado from our Prime Minister, John Key. Not satisfied with just calling the potential extinction of the Maui's dolphin a "load of mumbo-jumbo," Key also claimed that the Greens wanted to "close Taranaki down" because they’re opposed to the endangered dolphins habitat being opened up for oil exploration.

Of course such claims are a complete straw-man argument, with neither the Greens nor Labour proposing that existing oil wells in the area need to be closed down. They have on the most part taken a very pragmatic approach to the situation.

Clearly Key's statement was designed to try and make the Greens look extreme, when their position on this matter is anything but. Not only did the Prime Minister once again mislead the house of representatives, he’s ignoring the fact that further oil exploration and drilling in the Maui's dolphin's habitat will have an adverse impact and likely cause the marine mammals extinction. None of that seemed to matter to our Prime Minister though and unfortunately he was simply point scoring over the dead bodies of Maui's dolphins.

Likewise, the Minister for Energy and Resources, Simon Bridges, isn't accepting the truth of the matter. He's at pains to ignore the fact that this is a new area within the Maui's habitat that's been opened up for exploration and comparing it to existing wells is simply not appropriate. Unfortunately because no proper studies have been conducted concerning Maui's dolphins mortality rates, no accurate figures are available to show any association with the oil and gas industry. In fact necropsy reports of dead dolphins usually don't see the light of day for some reason. I wonder why?

When Simon Bridges claims; "there is no record of the species being harmed by the activity," that's because nobody has been keeping a record. To document the deaths of dolphins is difficult enough, but to associate those deaths to pollution from the oil and gas industry is even harder. That's because unless a dolphin washes up covered in oil, a proper autopsy needs to be conducted to determine the cause of death. Without those results being made public, Bridges can basically claim whatever he likes.

Being that seismic testing and oil pollution have an adverse effect on a dolphin’s ability to hunt for food, the usual cause of death is found to be starvation. Most reports simply state: starvation, and don't document any related causes. Another adverse effect of the oil industry pollution on marine mammals is dolphins being stillborn. However the association with oil pollution is hard to prove, therefore the industry and their political mouthpieces have an easy excuse for continuing their environmentally damaging practices.

As you may know oil exploration uses seismic booms which have been documented to cause serious harm to marine mammals. However there's also the adverse effect from waste created from drilling new wells which is simply dumped into the ocean. Ignoring the science concerning these issues isn't acceptable when we're talking about species extinction, so here's a few excerpts from various studies that Simon Bridges and his oil industry masters should be aware of.

This 2005 study by Nkosi Luyeye (PDF) which is concerned with the reduction in fish catch rates as a result of seismic survey activity outlines exactly why further seismic activity in the Maui's dolphin’s habitat will have an additional detrimental effect:

Unlike humans and other terrestrial animals, marine mammals rely on sound instead of sight as their primary sense. Dolphins, whales and seals utilise their sense of hearing to locate prey, avoid predators, choose migration routes , and to communicate across long distances. The noise associated with seismic surveys can affect the ability of these animals to detect natural underwater sounds, thereby disrupting these critical activities.

Researchers have also observed signs of physical stress such as startle responses in humpback whales while seismic surveys were being conducted many miles away  (Lokkeborg, 1993).

Scientists believe that pods of whales that include calves are at serious risk from seismic activities due to their need to utilize critical habitats for feeding and resting. If seismic surveys continually displace whales from these important areas, declined population levels may result.

The other issue here is that some chemicals added to drilling fluids to solve certain problems are toxic to marine animals. Unlike cuttings piles, where they mainly accumulate under the platforms, drilling mud can be distributed over vast distances. The chemicals in this drilling waste include but are not limited to diesel fuel, chromate salts, surfactants and paraformaldehyde biocide.

Components of such waste can either diffuse into the atmosphere, adsorb onto and settle out onto the bottom sediments, disperse due to water currents, or be taken up and metabolised by both pelagic and benthic marine organisms (Holdway, 2002).

This study from 2010 by the Heriot-Watt University entitled: Studies on the Impact of a Water-based Drilling Mud Weighting Agent (Barite) on some Benthic Invertebrates (PDF) clearly outlines the adverse effects on marine life. It is mainly concerned with one particular byproduct amongst many produced in the drilling process:

The presence of barite within the benthic boundary layer could have adverse effects towards marine communities, especially non-motile suspension feeding bivalves.

(...) 

The combination of reduced gill functionality, extra energy consumption from the production of excess pseudo faeces and the possible interference with food reaching the mouth is the most likely reason for the early mortality observed in animals exposed to suspended barite.

Clearly drilling and fracking for oil will have an adverse effect on the marine environment in general and these negative consequences will have a knock on effect right up the food chain. With this study clearly showing an adverse effect on fish numbers from oil drilling, what exactly are the Maui's dolphin's supposed to eat? They will be forced to move to another area or starve.

These are scientifically accepted facts that Simon Bridges, John Key and the rest of the Tories who place profit before the environment should be aware of. Although existing wells have the potential to leak oil, the main concern here is with any new exploration and drilling in the habitat of the endangered Maui’s dolphin. National is simply arguing from ignorance and that’s not a position they should find themselves in come election day.

Russel Norman vs John Key

More oily recipes from National Party headquaters

H/T Greenpeace New Zealand

A failure to report

If you happened to attend the Maui's dolphin protest yesterday in Tauranga and then tune into the news @ 6 O'Clock on channel One last night you may have been disappointed that it wasn't reported on.

The NZ Herald also failed to inform the general public about the large protest in today's publication. Strangely they do have an article online that was published yesterday:

Hundreds of angry protesters have closed a section of Devonport Rd as they marched to Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges' office this morning.

They chanted "Simon Bridges, what do we say? Save our Mauis, save them today" and "Simon says drill, we say no, save our Maui dolphins, bro".

These concerned citizens gathered in their hundreds to make it known to the government that oil exploration and drilling in the habitat of the endangered Maui's dolphins is not acceptable.

With 79% of those polled thinking Simon Bridges' decision is disgusting and that no marine sanctuary should be opened up for oil exploration, this is clearly a topical issue that should have had proper coverage.

In contrast to that failure to report on the Maui's dolphin protest One News did report on a much smaller protest that occurred in Auckland concerning an alcohol outlet being allowed opposite a school.

One can only assume that TVNZ made a conscious decision to not report on the larger Maui's dolphin protest because it made the government and more specifically Simon Bridges look bad.

This is but one example of many that our mainstream media is biased in favour of protecting the current defunct government. They are essentially trying to chose who wins the next election.

Unfortunately without proper coverage of these important issues we cannot hope to have a proper contest of ideas leading up to the next election. We cannot therefore hope to have a functioning democracy under a corporatised media that fails in its duty to properly inform the public.

H/T Porcupine Farm

Protest to save the last 55 Maui's dolphins

More information here: Bridges target of dolphin protest

This is worth blogging about

As you may have heard, Simon Bridges, the Minister of Energy and Resources has decided to allow oil exploration and drilling in the habitat of the critically endangered Maui's dolphin.

Here's the media release from 3 News:

The Maui's dolphin is the world's rarest. It is estimated there are only 55 left.

"I think primarily once you go from exploration right through to production, you're not jeopardising the wildlife," says Minister of Energy and Resources Mr Bridges.

Simon Bridges is obviously living in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks that seismic testing, oil drilling and potential oil spills will have no impact on a species like the Maui's dolphin.

But what's perhaps worse than this unbelievably bad decision is that the current government has tried to keep it a secret:

In April, the Government signed off a block offer – the biggest area ever of sea and land for oil and gas exploration.

Now official documents obtained by the Green Party reveal the Department of Conservation pointed out that this is the home of the Maui's dolphin, known as the West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary.

The area the Government has opened up for potential drilling overlaps 3000 square kilometres into the sanctuary, including large areas off the Taranaki coast.

So without the Green party locating this information the government would have been happy to keep the public in the dark about their planned extinction of the iconic Maui's dolphin.

Although popoto's decline in numbers appears to mainly be the result of set-net fishing in the area, something that the government has also declined to do anything substantial about, in the interview the woefully inept Minister makes an extraordinary admission:

"There has been petroleum exploration in that area for a long period of time," says Mr Bridges. "I think it's about achieving a balance."

Clearly there's no balance between industry and the environment because dolphin numbers have continued to decline. That travesty appears to be the result of petroleum exploration in their habitat and not just unsustainable fishing practices.

In fact there is a growing body of evidence that shows seismic testing for instance has an adverse effect on such species. Even the US Navy now acknowledges that seismic testing kills whales and dolphins.

Of course the idiotic decision has resulted in a large amount of justified criticism. However it's also resulted in a number of calls for the Minister's head. That's not really a solution, as another oil industry puppet will simply take his place.

Instead, the best thing people can do is make MP's like Simon Bridges politically extinct at the next election.

Greenpeace says thank you

David Rastovich coastal journey - Part 3

Plight of Maui's dolphin shouldn't be ignored

Last week, Stuff reported:

Politicians were thin on the ground when Greenpeace presented MPs with 55 artworks symbolising the estimated number of surviving adult Maui's dolphins.

Although none of the 41 invited National MPs turned up yesterday, four Opposition MPs fronted to get their prints. The series, called In Your Hands and inscribed with MPs' names, was by Wellington artist Sheyne Tuffery.

It's a shame that most politicians don't care enough about the Maui's dolphin. What is good to see though is the movement to save the iconic species is starting to gain momentum.

The Government recently received over 20,000 submissions from people from all around the world wanting immediate action to save Maui's dolphin.

Let's hope that overwhelming public outcry won't be ignored for too long by the National government, and they legislate to protect the Maui's dolphin from extinction before it's too late.

Dave Rastovich - Hero of the Week

Today, Billabong reported:

Renowned surfer and environmental activist, Dave “Rasta” Rastovich (32, Byron bay, AUS), has successfully completed the first leg of an epic 350km paddle from Cape Taranaki to Piha in New Zealand which he has undertaken to draw awareness to proposed seabed mining that threatens the area.

[...]

Rastovich’s 17-foot paddle-board is custom built for the epic journey that will carry him through the coastal zone under direct threat from iron ore mining companies. The entire west coast of New Zealand, from Wanganui to Cape Reinga, is under either a prospecting or exploration permit for iron sand. A local group, "Kiwis Against Seabed Mining" (KASM) has been established to draw attention to and oppose the plans.

“This campaign is about awareness and education and supporting the great work of community based groups like KASM (Kiwis Against Seabed Mining). We’re urging people to just have a look at the facts and how that will impact them and their community,” said Rastovich.

Rough seas caused a small delay to Dave Rastovich's Coastal Paddle yesterday, but it's unlikely to dampen the spirits of the pro surfer and film maker.

The great thing about this is the international attention Rastovich will receive could just well be the catalyst the cause needs. So well done Dave Rastovich. Dude is most deserving of this weeks Hero award.

Schedule:

Fri 16th Nov - Oakura Beach (paddle begins)
Fri 16th Nov - Fitzroy Beach New Plymouth Surf Club (music, food & info) from 6pm
Sat 17th Nov - Education and awareness session with local boardriders club
Sun 18th - Fri 23rd paddle, paddle, paddle (meetings and engaging with local communities)
Sat 24th - Raglan Info Event
25th – 30th – paddle, paddle, paddle to South of Piha meetings and engaging with local communities)
Sat 1st Dec – Piha Conclusion “Love Your Ocean Day!” Major day time event. Evening finale event at the Piha Bowls Club.