Ocean Alliance Against Offshore Drilling

Oil Spills both Large and Small

Alongside catastrophic large oil spills, smaller, routine spillages pollute the UK’s seas on a scale that can be seen from space. Often unreported, oil companies are getting away with widespread pollution of our precious marine wildlife.

Habitat Loss

Building rigs and pipelines directly damages wildlife on the seabed and disturbs sediments, smothering whole ecological communities. Even so-called marine protected areas are not off limits for this damaging infrastructure.

Seismic Blasting

Seismic air gun surveys (used almost exclusively in offshore oil and gas exploration) emit an ear-splitting noise that is 100,000 times more intense than a jet engine. These blasts harm wildlife like the protected harbour porpoise, which use sound to hunt, navigate and communicate.

Toxic Drilling Lubricants

Lubricants or ‘drilling muds’ contain toxic chemicals like mercury and huge volumes of microplastics. Released into the sea, they’re ingested by creatures big and small, causing harm to individuals and entire food chains.

Oil Spills both Large and Small

Alongside catastrophic large oil spills, smaller, routine spillages pollute the UK’s seas on a scale that can be seen from space. Often unreported, oil companies are getting away with widespread pollution of our precious marine wildlife.

Seismic Blasting

Seismic air gun surveys (used almost exclusively in offshore oil and gas exploration) emit an ear-splitting noise that is 100,000 times more intense than a jet engine. These blasts harm wildlife like the protected harbour porpoise, which use sound to hunt, navigate and communicate.