We call on the elected representatives of Australia to cease any further expansion of fossil fuel exploration in  commonwealth waters adjacent to the Tasmanian coastline by supporting the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Fight for Australia’s Coastline) Bill 2022.

It is critical for our local economies and our communities’ health & well-being for the ocean to be safeguarded as the well balanced, fruitful ecosystem that it is. We are particularly concerned with the seismic surveys happening in the Otway Basin, in the North West of Tasmania. 

• Last year Conocophillips & 3D oil  conducted seismic surveys just 27km West of King Island
• 3D Oil now have plans to drill a “frontier exploration well” by 2023
• Slumberger & TGS are applying to seismic survey 7.7 million hectares of the continental shelf from South Aus to as far south as Arthur River, Tasmania. 
  This is occurring over the Zeehan & Nelson Marine Park 

We call for a cancellation of PEP/T/49P where US company ConocoPhillips has recently conducted seismic testing. In addition, no further exploration or permits granted on the  Eastern Beach Energy lease (T/RL2, T/RL4 & T/RL5). We also call on all new petroleum exploration leases in the Otway Basin (12 Apostles) and Sorell Basin to be canceled. 

Both commercial and recreational fishing has always been a huge part of our coastal culture. We want to be able to keep local seafood on the table for our families, protect local industries and continue recreational activities on the water. After all, it is this lifestyle and culture that has helped build our Southern Sea Country into the globally recognised area that it is today. 

New research by the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Science (IMAS) has recently found the economic value of Tasmania’s Fisheries and Aquaculture industries is worth $1.5b to the Australian economy

The current landed value of the Southern Rock Lobster Fisheries is $99m with a capital investment of $1b.

The fisheries on the Great Ocean Road contributed $22 million of added value in the 2016/17 financial year.

In 2018 Tasmanian had a total of 92,000 recreational fishermen, The Australian Institute reported these fishermen spend  $93m on equipment, bait, accommodation, and other services

A scientific study commissioned by the Fisheries Resource and Development Corporation (FRDC) in 2020 found that one month after a seismic survey around Lakes Entrance, catch rates fell 99.5% for whiting and 71% for flatheads.  Commercial scallop fisheries in Bass strait recorded a $70m loss in catches after a seismic survey in 2010. 

IMAS and Curtin University’s Center for Marine Science and Technology concluded seismic surveying was most likely the cause. These studies highlight the fact that  local fishing industries are left to deal with the negative impacts caused by fossil fuel exploration. 

Further studies on the commercially important species are currently being conducted at IMAS. However, all previous and current studies on the impacts of seismic testing have focused on individual physical impact. In short, scientists have not yet assessed the long-term effects of seismic testing, the impacts it will have on future fish stocks and the overall  health of our ecosystem. 

Impacting our fishing industry harms all other parts of our community, from the local business who sell fishing gear to the mechanics which service our fishing vessels. For example, the King Island rock lobster industry brings $22 million to the island annually supporting a diverse range of industries including hospitality, general stores etc. 

An official survey of King Island completed in 2021 confirmed 97% of residents were against fossil fuel exploration. 

In addition to fisheries, our oceans and our coasts are our most valuable tourism asset.  

Tasmania’s west coast is internationally renowned as one of the most wild, untouched, and pristine areas in the world, which the Tasmanian tourism industry has relied on to promote its world class reputation as a natural wonder. For example, Tasmanian Tourism directly  contributed $1.44 billion to Tasmania’s economy, and supported around 

38 000 jobs in Tasmania (15.8% of total Tasmanian employment) in 2019 prior to COVID19. 

A total of 376,000 of these visitors ate Tasmania's famous local seafood, 42,000 participated in fishing and 6,000  came for the sole purpose of fishing. 

The growing industry of tourism in Tasmania is an exciting prospect for communities and job growth, however the exploration for gas within 57km of these much-valued assets such as The Nut in Stanley, is jeopardizing this opportunity. The air and water quality on the West  Coast has a worldwide reputation for being some of the cleanest on the planet and the  planned expansion of fossil fuel operations off this coastline does not align with the Tasmanian wilderness tourism experience. 

In Victoria, to be exploring for gas less than 5km from the iconic 12 Apostles is an atrocity.  This coastline is world renowned, and in 2016-17, catered to over 5.1 million visitors who  spent $1.3 billion and generated employment for over 9,200 people. The Victorian tourism  industry, coastal communities and the livelihood of local fishermen will be heavily impacted  by the further industrialisation of the coastline. Local businesses and industries are a critical  part of coastal communities, and an integral part of our local economies. Threatening this  through fossil fuel expansion off our coasts would be another immense blow to our local communities, who are only just beginning to recover from the impacts which COVID-19 has burdened us with for the last 3 years.