Seismic Testing Off California’s Coast Threatens Marine Wildlife

In the aftermath of Pacific Gas & Electric making it public news that they wish to engage in seismic testing off the Californian coast, green-oriented organization Sea Shepherd warns that both the noise and the unnatural water movements brought forth by such activities will cause considerable damage to the marine wildlife found in these regions.

Apparently, said seismic testing is to consist of twenty air cannons being made to fire up explosions at intervals of 20 seconds, throughout a period of time of as many as 42 days.

For those unaware, seismic testing is a technology typically employed in identifying natural gas reserves, and Pacific Gas & Electric plans on using it to develop a three-dimensional map of this shoreline.

One need not be a specialist in environmental issues to figure out the fact that, once these air cannons start being fired according to the aforementioned schedule, most – if not all – of the marine species presently living off the Central Coast of California will witness their daily routine being pretty much turned upside down.

To make matters even worse, the Sea Shepherd organization reports that the area targeted for these seismic tests is one where both humpback and blue whales have been found to gather in relatively large numbers in order to feed on krill, which means that both these marine mammal species will be anything but protected.

As well as this, dolphins, porpoises, otters, fish and many other marine creatures stand to be affected.

It may very well be that a few dolphins and porpoises pose no interest from a strictly financial standpoint, but odds are that, should the local fish population decrease as a result of these tests, local fishermen will be anything but happy about this.

One can only assume that this is why, as the official website for the Sea Shepherd organization informs us, Pacific Gas & Electric offered to buy off several commercial fisheries in this part of the world.

Presently, the organization asks that ordinary folks join hands in asking that state authorities do not allow these tests to be carried out.