E-MAIL: Protect the Moray Firth Dolphins

Register

Quote:

Exploration for oil and gas is likely to be allowed in the Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation. This threatens a vulnerable, unique group of bottlenose dolphins and casts a shadow over the Government’s recent pledge to give greater protections to UK sea.

We need your help urgently to press the Government to ensure these dolphins are protected.

Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister has announced that whilst Cardigan Bay, also a Special Area of Conservation for bottlenose dolphins would be spared, oil and gas exploration in the Moray Firth was 'more likely' to go ahead.

The licences in the Firth are to be allowed despite scientific evidence that clearly demonstrates that oil and gas activities can disturb marine mammals and in some cases be potentially lethal.

Mark Simmonds, WDCS's Director of Science said. “At worst this could dramatically impact the dolphins’ chance of survival in the Firth, and in combination with other threats could even drive this unique population towards extinction. If we lose these dolphins we may never get them back, the Government has let us all down if they allow this to go ahead in a supposedly protected critical habitat.”

The announcement from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform came on the same day another branch of Government announced its intention to give special protected status to seven offshore European Marine Sites in the UK’s seas , prompting criticisms that the Government is giving with one hand and taking away with the other.

We now enter a public consultation period. This is your chance to have your say and save the amazing dolphins of the Moray Firth!

Send an e-mail to the govenment

Only registered users can see links on this forum!
Register or Login on forum!

_________________
x Kat x

Guardian Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 4255 Location: UK

Sent!

_________________

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

Guardian Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 4255 Location: UK

I got a reply:

Quote:

Thank you for your email of 24 January to Malcolm Wicks, about oil and gas licensing. I have been asked to reply.

The Government recognises that the oil and gas sector is one of the UK's most important industries and our role in awarding offshore oil and gas licences is to promote the continued development of UK waters whilst respecting and minimising the impact on our environment.

Both UK and EU legislation on Habitats and Species is intended to protect the environment. Under the Habitats Directive, where a plan or project is likely to have a significant effect on any Special Areas of Conservation (“SACs”) it must first be the subject of an appropriate assessment. The appropriate assessment examines the implications of the plan or project on the conservation objectives of the SACs; in general it is only possible to consent to a plan or project if there is no adverse effect on the integrity of the SACs concerned.

We are carrying out appropriate assessments to establish whether offshore oil and gas activities in Cardigan Bay and the Moray Firth would have an adverse effect on the integrity of any relevant SACs (BERR received applications for four licences in those areas as part of the 24th Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round

BERR is currently holding a public consultation and you have an opportunity to make representations on the draft assessments until 14th March 2008. The Government’s statutory environmental advisors are also being consulted.

The appropriate assessment documents have been placed on BERR’s SEA website:

Only registered users can see links on this forum!
Register or Login on forum!

.

Yours sincerely

Liz Herisz
BERR MINISTERIAL CORRESPONDENCE UNIT
Email:

Only registered users can see links on this forum!
Register or Login on forum!

Minimise is a horrible word when you think about it, minimise could still mean a huge effect on things.
Can you say MARINE BILL?!

_________________

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

Register · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject:

Geez, yeah "minimise"...with the amount of wildlife in the Firth including breeding colonies of Gannets, dolphins, whales and even basking sharks in the area any level of oil and gas exploration/extraction will cause disturbance to them, not to mention the pollution risk.

_________________
x Kat x

Guardian Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 4255 Location: UK

Exactly. Argh... do you think I should reply?

_________________

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

Register · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject:

If you want to...though the phrase "talking to a brick wall" springs to mind. Got to laugh at the government though - speaking of sustainablity one minute while trashing the environment the next!

_________________
x Kat x

Guardian Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 4255 Location: UK

I know. Stalling the marine bill also comes to mind.

_________________

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

Register · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject:

Yup, that annoys me so much! The Marine Bill is needed NOW. When they finally get round to it there will be nothing in the seas to protect at this rate! Evil or Very Mad

_________________
x Kat x

Guardian Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 4255 Location: UK

*sigh* I know sad

_________________

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

Register · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject:

You can now sign a PETITION against the plans

Only registered users can see links on this forum!
Register or Login on forum!

_________________
x Kat x

Guardian Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 4255 Location: UK

Signed.

_________________

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

Register · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject:

Update

Only registered users can see links on this forum!
Register or Login on forum!

Apparently the government is "likely" to grant permission for drilling in the Firth...

_________________
x Kat x

Guardian Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 4255 Location: UK

The government is also "likely" to get a the largest sized steel toe-capped boot I can find up their rear end.

_________________

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

Register · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:36 am Post subject:

Make that two Evil or Very Mad

_________________
x Kat x

Register · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:02 am Post subject:

Closing date for making your voice heard is the 14th of March!

_________________
x Kat x

Register · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:56 am Post subject:

This campaign has ended.

A second recent oil spill in the Moray Firth has highlighted threats to the dolphins and other wildlife living in the Firth.

Read more -

Only registered users can see links on this forum!
Register or Login on forum!

_________________
x Kat x