The Battle to Save the Bight – The Power of Environmental Protests

With so many issues threatening our oceans in the 21st century, we often have a mental image depicting a losing battle against climate change, ocean plastic and general human activities. Yet recently, the tide seems to be turning with regard to activism. No longer are environmental protestors seen as unconventional hippies but finally authorities are starting to pay attention to the important messages promoted by thousands of people; from schoolchildren to bankers to bus drivers to pensioners. Here is one such example where ocean-loving souls fought off multi-million dollar oil companies to protect one of Australia’s most magnificent stretches of coastline. If there was ever a time when our voices could be heard and listened to, that time is now as environmental disasters threaten the foundations of our daily lives.

The Great Australian Bight is a wide open bay hugging 1,160 kilometres of sun-drenched coastline stretching across Western and Southern Australia. The Bight is considered one of the most unspoiled marine environments in the world and 85% of its marine inhabitants are found nowhere else on Earth. Blue whales and southern right whales migrate here from the icy waters of Antarctica to give birth. Some of the last Australian sea lion colonies show off their cheeky antics in the waves while albatross and sea eagles swoop overhead. Blue-backed penguins shuffle across the warm sand and bluefin tuna launch their bodies from waves. It’s a paradise for both the animals themselves and the wildlife and water lovers amongst us. Yet for energy companies, it’s also a potential new drilling site for increasing elusive oil; a last ditch attempt to profit from fossil fuels before renewable energy dominates the market.

A Norwegian oil giant was the fourth company to draw plans of oil exploration in the Bight and received backing from the Australian government which was looking to boost the economy and drive energy security, despite 60% of Aussies being worried about the impact of drilling. Amongst those against the plans were the indigenous Miring people whose traditional land backs the Great Australian Bight. ‘Mirrdinjar’ is a Mirning concept which says we should honour respect for the ocean and thank it for everything it provides us. It seems the actions of oil companies couldn’t be further from these traditional values and ways of life. We all know the world has developed, improving the lives of millions but situations like these pose the question: where do we draw the line in our consumption? When is too much?

The impact of drilling on this unique area could be disastrous as loud underwater noises force animals to abandon historical feeding and breeding grounds and travel to find new unoccupied territory. In species such as whales and dolphins, the explosions used to locate oil can often deafen animals, making it incredibly difficult to navigate, find food and communicate with their pod. Increased boat traffic is also a major human threat to whales with ship strikes forming one of the largest causes of death to these majestic giants who are sadly no match for our menacing supersized vessels.

Yet the threat of an oil spill is the major concern of many ocean enthusiasts. 80-90% of oil spills occur during the initial exploration stages before any energy is even close to being harvested. If an oil spill the size of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster occurred, the Bight’s feisty wind and ferocious waves could carry oil along 750 kilometres of relatively untouched coastline. If a spill this size took place, modelling shows that it could take an astonishing 150 days to completely stem the flow of toxic oil as large waves, deep water and an inaccessible location could prevent immediate responses. The impact of a spill on wildlife is often devasting for decades after the event and long after the story has vanished from newspaper headlines. Oil strips the waterproofing from birds’ feathers and marine mammals’ fur, leaving them vulnerably exposed to extreme temperatures. In an attempt to save themselves, animals often try to clean themselves but this sadly ends in them ingesting oil instead. The oil slicks that form on the sea surface can also block the blowholes of whales and dolphins whilst clogging the gills of fish and can even undermine the entire food chain by blocking sunlight from the sea, leaving seaweeds, seagrass and corals unable to thrive. All of these effects could devastate the regional fishing and tourism industry whilst costing us one of our last wild frontiers.

Therefore, it is clear why thousands of Australians rallied together to show off their passion for our oceans. At the largest protest, 10,000 people from all over the country grabbed their surfboards and paddled out into the ocean brandishing their slogan covered (body)boards. One of the activists showing their support on the shore said ‘if you’ve had sand in your toes, this is your fight’. This is only one of many examples of modern day protests as the environmental disasters occurring on Earth are no longer a distant prospect but a real threat menacingly edging its way into our day to day lives. For now, that may mean the loss of an unspoilt walking spot or toxically polluted waves but, in a few decades, it could impact food security and even the air we breathe. Extraordinarily in this case, some of the protestors were also shareholders in the Norwegian company, refreshingly not only wanting profit but also a future for nature. While this wasn’t enough to convince the company, it’s incredible that businesses are being put under pressure by their own investors to stick to environmental laws, such as the Paris Agreement which aims to prevent global warming exceeding 1.5°C.

As of February 2020, the oil company abandoned plans in the area stating that oil drilling in the Bight was not commercially competitive, sending a wave of celebration through ocean activists. While we do not know if this is the whole reason for the company backing out, it is a great win for our oceans and we can now hope that the money may be invested into renewable projects as many fossil fuel giants are forced to turn towards rapidly popular new forms of energy. Yet the battle of the Bight is not over, with protestors grabbing their banners once more to fight for formal marine protection of this great Australian treasure to prevent another round of oil proposals in the future. The people of Australia are pushing for world heritage site designation, a move which remains radical as usually governments push such decisions.

With the power of society seeming greater than in previous centuries, now is the perfect time to stand up for what you believe in and face governments which are being forced to acknowledge the damage they have helped inflict upon Earth. For governments, the challenge is tricky. They are balancing environmental protection with energy security and in the past, development and sustainability were seen as competing forces, a paradox. However, today we have the opportunity to abandon unsustainable old practices and embrace new technologies such as renewable energy which can protect our diverse oceans from drilling and climate change whilst serving human needs. The 21st century therefore poses an exciting time, giving us the chance to rekindle our harmonious relationship with nature. The authorities finally seem ready to listen, we just need to speak up.

By Neve McCracken-Heywood