With the help and cooperation of the legal resource centre, a group of small-scale fishing communities on the west coast filed a letter of demand on January 13 to block the seismic survey that was scheduled to commence on January 15.

Searcher Seismic, an Australian business, was granted permission to commence a 2D/3D seismic study on South Africa’s west coast from the middle of this month that could last for 180 days. The letter of demand to the searcher seismic indicated that the survey should be postponed awaiting the outcome of a legal challenge.

​Environmental activists claim that the probes are harmful to marine life, particularly because of the jolts and noise dumps, while the industry claims that they are not. Although the hydrocarbon potential of the South African coast remains largely untapped, a global tide of public opinion is turning against the use of fossil fuels due to its links to the climate catastrophe.

​Masifundise Development Trust(MDT), an NGO that promotes sustainable livelihoods for small -scale fishers are in full support of the small-scale fishers who have an interest in protecting the natural environment of the west coast, which provides them with a living.

​“We are really concerned about the relentless push toward environmentally harmful extractive operations. These activities are starting to develop along South Africa’s coastline, inundating it. Local people are constantly confronted with these threats, and they risk losing their livelihood to access maritime resources” stated Masifundise​ director Nassegh Jaffer.

​The use of seismic waves could have a severe effect on marine life’s health, and if effective, the activities could upset communities who rely on eco-tourism and fishing for a living. South Africans have created a petition for the public who oppose the blasting to sign.