The ocean off Dongara is alive. Whales nurturing calves, sea lions hunting, dhufish gliding through turquoise waters. Our twin towns of Dongara and Port Denison thrive by the sea; our identity, our livelihoods, and the joy of living are profoundly intertwined with the sea. From fishing and surfing to tourism and crayfishing, the ocean sustains us. It is not just where we live, it is our home, our sanctuary, and it deserves our protection.

But all of this is now under threat. Pilot Energy’s recently approved Eureka 3D Seismic Blasting Project will unleash deafening underwater explosions every five seconds for weeks on end, threatening nearly 1000 km² of our Mid West ocean, just 6 kms off our coast. The devastating effects of this have been documented to extensively disrupt marine life; driving whales, dolphins, and other sea creatures away from their natural habitats, leaving them disoriented, distressed or dead. Demersal fish, including dhufish, baldchin groper and snapper; as well as crayfish and plankton - the base of the food web - have been shown in scientific studies (referenced below) to be adversely affected or killed. Yet, our community has been largely left in the dark, without adequate consultation.

We call on Pilot Energy to cease seismic blasting in Dongara’s waters immediately.

We call on Premier Cook, Fisheries Minister Jack Jarvis, Federal Fisheries Minister Julie Collins, Minister Madeleine King, Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn, Geraldton member Kirrilee Warr, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt, Minister David Michael, , Minister Chris Bowen, Assistant Climate Minister Minister Josh Wilson, Opposition leader Basil Zempilas, Nationals Leader Shane Love, Member for Durack Melissa Price and all decision-makers to:

• Reverse the approval of the Eureka 3D Seismic Survey immediately.
• Cease the government’s $6.5 million dollar grant for Pilot Energy to carry out state sanctioned seismic blasting off the mid-west coast.
• Commission an independent environmental review to assess long-term and cumulative impacts.
• Commit to genuine public consultation — including local residents and environmental experts.
• Align all future ocean approvals with Australia’s climate and conservation goals.

Sign the petition. Join us in saying NO to destructive seismic blasting.

Please share this petition widely. Send a clear message to Pilot Energy and other industries that our oceans are not theirs to exploit but ours to enjoy and protect for generations to come.

Thank you,

Dongara Against Seismic Blasting

STUDIES REFERENCED:

The repeated use of high-intensity seismic airguns—firing every 10–15 seconds for weeks—poses serious ecological risks. These risks are well-documented across global studies:

•    Lestang et al. (2024) documented the harm to western rock lobster in the study “Boom Boom Shake the Room: Seismic surveys affect behaviour and survival of western rock lobster”

•    Nowacek et al. (2007) found that seismic noise causes displacement, stress, and altered vocalization patterns in whales and dolphins.

•     McCauley et al. (2017) showed seismic blasts led to mass mortality of zooplankton up to 1.2 km from the source, threatening the base of marine food webs.

•     Slabbekoorn et al. (2010) reported reduced reproductive success and altered behavior in fish exposed to anthropogenic noise.

•     Di Iorio & Clark (2010) observed blue whales changing feeding vocalizations during seismic surveys, likely due to acoustic masking.

•     Affatati et al. (2023) conducted a systematic review showing seismic surveys cause masking, avoidance, and behavioral shifts across marine mammals, fish, and invertebrates.

•     NRDC (2023) highlighted catch rate declines and habitat abandonment in commercial fisheries following seismic activity.

•     The Conversation (2023) reported whales ceasing song and lobsters losing balance during seismic testing off Australia’s west coast.

These findings are echoed locally:

•     The WA Department of Fisheries (2020) Risk Assessment (Fisheries Research Report No. 288) flagged specific vulnerabilities in WA’s finfish, shellfish, and prey species to seismic airgun noise.

Despite this, Pilot Energy continues to promote the Eureka survey as “low risk,” without long-term data or full public consultation. While some commercial fishing stakeholders were approached, the broader community—including recreational fishers, tourism operators, and environmental groups—was largely excluded. This is unacceptable.