Greenpeace Calls on Greece to Abandon Gas Project Endangering Whales and Dolphins
Environmental organization Greenpeace has appealed to the Greek government to halt a deep-sea gas exploration project in the Mediterranean, citing new research indicating that the initiative poses a greater threat to endangered whales and dolphins than previously believed. The survey conducted last year in the waters off southwestern Greece and Crete, areas designated for exploratory drilling, revealed the presence of sea mammals both in winter and summer, confirming previous findings.
The gas exploration project targets an area that largely overlaps with the Hellenic Trench, which includes the deepest waters in the Mediterranean, reaching depths of 5,267 meters (17,300 feet). This area is critical for the survival of the sea’s few hundred sperm whales, as well as other marine mammals that are already facing threats from fishing, ship collisions, and plastic pollution.
Although the project’s current environmental safeguards limit exploration to the winter months, which have a lesser impact on whale and dolphin breeding periods, the newly published research in the Endangered Species Research journal found that at least four species of cetaceans, including sperm whales and Cuvier’s beaked whales, are present in the area throughout the year.
Kostis Grimanis from Greenpeace Greece emphasized the ecological importance of this region of the Mediterranean. He criticized the government and oil companies for pursuing hydrocarbon exploration in these waters, labeling it an absurd crime against nature. Grimanis stressed that not only would such activities be detrimental to iconic marine fauna species, but they would also undermine efforts to combat the climate crisis by exploiting undersea fossil fuels.
In response to the findings, Greenpeace has called for the cancellation of all offshore drilling permits. In 2019, Greece granted exploration rights to an international energy consortium for two blocks of seabed south and southwest of Crete, with smaller projects already underway farther north. This year, ExxonMobil and Greece’s Helleniq Energy conducted a three-month seismic survey of the seabed in the two major blocks, and the Greek government plans to commence initial exploratory drilling in 2025.
Officials assure that the strictest environmental standards are being followed. However, seismic surveys used to identify potential gas deposits involve bouncing sonic blasts off the seabed, which can cause distress to sound-sensitive cetaceans. Similar sonar systems employed by warships have been associated with lethal effects on whales, and experts argue that seismic surveys may have similar consequences. Moreover, the drilling and extraction of gas would also generate substantial undersea noise, according to environmentalists.
The research report, a collaboration between Greenpeace Greece, the University of Exeter, and the Athens-based Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute, recorded encounters with at least five cetacean species, including 14 sperm whales, during the winter of 2022. This study builds upon previous research conducted during the summer months.
As the debate continues, it is crucial to consider the balance between economic benefits and environmental protection. While Greece aims to tap into its gas reserves for energy independence and economic growth, the potential impact on vulnerable marine species cannot be ignored. With the call from Greenpeace to abandon the gas project, a comprehensive evaluation of the consequences and alternative approaches is warranted to ensure the long-term conservation of these endangered whales and dolphins.
In conclusion, concerns raised by Greenpeace over the deep-sea gas exploration project in the Mediterranean have sparked a plea to Greece to protect endangered whales and dolphins. The presence of sea mammals throughout the year in the project area contradicts existing environmental safeguards, prompting calls to cancel offshore drilling permits. The Greek government must carefully consider these concerns and strike a balance between economic development and the conservation of marine life.
