An urgent application for an interdict to halt the seismic survey was heard in the Cape High Court on Monday morning.
In another blow to organised fossil fuel exploration the Judge ordered the respondents to stop seismic survey blasting until the interim interdict takes place on 7 March 2022.
Thirteen applicants from small-scale fishing communities filed an urgent interdict against Searcher Geodata’s ongoing surveying. The applicants have filed on the basis that no meaningful consultation was carried out with the fishing communities along the West Coast and neither were they allowed to review the permits granted.
Environmental groups are concerned that the seismic survey, which will cover a large portion of the West Coast, will have a huge impact on marine life.
The seismic survey will include a 2D survey totaling a length of up to about 22 000km and a 3D survey covering an area of 10 000 km2.
The possibility of decreasing marine resources will in turn affect the livelihoods of the small-scale fishing communities who depend on marine life as a resource, according to Pedro Garcia from the South African United Fishing Front.
Garcia said that the “uncertainty about seismic surveys puts [fishing] communities at risk”. He said that SEARCHER had to cease the seismic surveying until there was certainty about the effects it will have on marine life.
Garcia said that fishing communities are already struggling to survive with limited access to resources.
The Court Order Ruled:
1. That the Third, Fourth and Sixth Respondents are directed to discontinue any activities intended to give effect to or related to the seismic survey of the west and south-west costs of South Africa that commenced on or about 14 January 2022.
2. The order in paragraph 1 will remain in place until the determination of Part A f the matter.
3. The Third, Fourth and Sixth respondents, are ordered jointly and severally (the one paying the others to be absolved) to pay the costs of the hearig on 7th February 2022.
4. The further conduct of the matter shall be as follows:
4.1. The Third and Fourth Respondents shall file their answering affidavits on 9 February 2022 at 16h00.
4.2. The remaining Respondents shall file any answering or explanatory affidavits on 14 February 2022 at 16h00.
4.3. The Applicants shall file any replying affidavits on 25 February 2022 at 18h00.
4.4. The parties shall file heads of argument as follows:
4.4.1. Applicants on 1 March 2022 at 16h00 and
4.4.2. Respondents on 3 March 2022 at 16h00
5. The Application in Part A is set down for hearing on 7 March 2022 at 10h00.
Cape Town Lens: Shipwreck near Lüderitz, Namibia