How Does Offshore Drilling Affect the Dolphins & Whales?

Offshore exploration and drilling affects marine life in many ways.

With the recent shortages in oil and increased prices in gasoline, some politicians have begun to re-evaluate the need for more offshore exploration and drilling as a short-term solution to this ever-growing problem. Offshore drilling has not come without costs. The effect of offshore exploration and drilling has had a negative impact on many forms of marine life, including dolphins and whales.

Seismic Testing

Seismic testing is used to locate potential sites for offshore drilling in the oceans. These seismic tests involve creating decibel levels of 260, which is about double the decibel level created by an ambulance. Many forms of marine life have very sensitive hearing and are extremely affected by this decibel level. Whales and dolphins exposed to seismic testing have been known to suffer from disorientation, beaching and brain hemorrhaging.

Offshore Drilling

The act of offshore drilling itself leads to the release of toxins into the water that are harmful to all forms of marine life, including dolphins and whales. These toxins include mercury, lead, cadmium and even radioactive materials like radium. The production water, excavation materials and even the mud excavated during drilling all have negative impacts.

Oil Spills

Offshore drilling leads to an increased risk in oil spills since oil is being pumped and transported from the area. Oil spills have dramatic effects on all types of marine life. In specific regard to whales and dolphins, oil exposure can lead to eye and skin lesions, hypothermia due to changes of conductance in skin, damaged airways, congested lungs, toxicity and organ dysfunction from oil ingestion. Many of these symptoms can immediately or eventually lead to death.

Increased Boat Traffic

Offshore drilling leads to an increase in the amount of traffic and human activity in the area being drilled. Tankers, boats and barges all create loud noises that disturb many ecosystems. Whales and dolphins become especially fearful of these forms of activity, especially if the noises produced are in a decibel level that can disorient or harm them.

Alternatives

Alternative methods are being developed that could be used in lieu of offshore exploration and drilling. There have been improvements in power produced by natural gas, wind power and water power. Many people believe that more offshore drilling will only lead to more harm of the environment without much long-term payoff for the oil that is excavated.

References

• Australian Maritime Safety Authority: The Effects of Oil Spills on Marine Mammals
• GreenPeace: Offshore Drilling