Making Waves. Likely Effects of Seismic Surveys on the Squid Resource and Fishery

By Dr Jean Githaiga-Mwicigi, Fisheries Scientist Resources Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

A few years ago, a Norwegian-based company forwarded a request to undertake speculative 2D seismic surveys to prospect for oil and gas reserves in a number of petroleum licensed blocks off the South and East Coasts of South Africa. The fishing industry expressed concern on the effect such a survey would have on the squid resource and fishery and requested permission to have the survey halted pending further research on potential impacts on the squid and other fish resources off the South Coast.