The ecology sometimes trumps the economy.

The Grahamstown court in South Africa on Tuesday banned the giant Shell "from undertaking seismic prospecting" off the "Wild Coast".

The energy giant had decided to launch a new project to search for oil and gas over more than 6,000 km2 off this coast open to the Indian Ocean.

Environmental activists, fishermen and locals opposed it, saying seismic exploration posed a threat to marine life.

However, the “Wild Coast”, with its spectacular wild landscapes, has several nature reserves and marine protected areas.

A long standoff

Thousands of ocean activists and nature lovers demonstrated in December on beaches across the country and blocked Shell gas stations, calling for a boycott.

Earlier this month, the country's justice system rejected a first appeal by environmental activists.

The Minister of Energy had defended the project, accusing his detractors of blocking the economic investments that South Africa needs.

This time, in this new appeal involving the community living in this hitherto unspoiled corner of nature, Judge Gerald Bloem ruled that Shell had not fulfilled the obligation to consult the local population, who notably hold fishing rights. and maintains a “special spiritual and cultural bond with the ocean”.

"We respect the court ruling and have put the study on hold while we review the judgment," said a Shell spokesperson, who did not say whether the company would appeal.

Seismic exploration, a scourge for maritime fauna

Offshore fossil fuel prospecting uses the analysis of the propagation of seismic waves to determine the geological structure of soils likely to contain hydrocarbons.

The shock waves are sent by boats equipped with air cannons.

According to environmentalists, these detonations risk disrupting the behavior of fauna, its diet, its reproduction as well as migrations, especially that of whales, most marine animals relying on hearing.

Shell's project was to run for five months without interruption.

The research involved sending a powerful shock wave every ten seconds, 24 hours a day.

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  • Gas

  • ecology

  • Ocean

  • energy

  • South Africa

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