Offshore oil and gas activities pose a significant threat to marine biodiversity at every stage of the industry – from exploration and extraction to shipping and usage – according to new research launched this week which shows that a significant percentage of marine protected areas overlap with oil and gas blocks in frontier regions.

Published by Earth Insight, new mapping and analysis visualises the threats posed by all future offshore fossil fuel projects to frontier biodiversity hotspots and coastal communities across the pantropics. It’s found that oil and gas blocks cover over 2.7 million-square-kilometres in these case study frontier regions – an area roughly the size of Argentina.

Among the findings, the map has revealed that some 100,000-square-kilometres (19%) of coastal and Marine Protected Areas and 70,000-square-kilometres (11%) of Important Marine Mammal Areas and 52,000-square-kilometres (14%) of marine and coastal Key Biodiversity Areas overlap with oil and gas blocks.

When it comes to the threats posed to coral reefs, sea grass, and mangroves approximately 22,800-square-kilometres (15%) of coral reefs; 7,900-square-kilometres (63%) of seagrass meadows; and 70,000-square-kilometres (15%) of mangroves in frontier case studies are now overlapped by oil and gas blocks, placing critical marine habitats at significant risk.

These are, of course, regions that are vital for the conservation of marine mammals and ecosystems that provide habitat as well as provide for feeding, breeding, and migration.

“Fossil fuel expansion shouldn’t be happening anywhere, yet it’s happening in some of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet,” said Tyson Miller, executive director of Earth Insight. “This report offers both a sobering wake-up call and glimmers of hope given that many of the planned projects can still be stopped and there are incredible organisation and networks actively working towards this goal.’

The findings also reveal stark climate risks, evidenced by the fact that Papua LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) in Papua New Guinea, will release greenhouse gases equivalent to Bangladesh’s annual emissions. Meanwhile, the Saya de Malha bank, the world’s largest seagrass meadow, remains unprotected despite its critical role in carbon sequestration.

The Gulf of California in Mexico – a key marine biodiversity hotspot and whale sanctuary – could also soon emerge as a major global hub for LNG trade.

“The Gulf of California has been coined the ‘World’s Aquarium’ and hosts nearly 40% of marine mammal species, including the iconic blue whale and whale sharks,” said Cecilia Garcia, communication director of the Mexican NGO, Defensa Ambiental Noroeste. “300 metre-long LNG tanker ships exporting US fossil energy to foreign markets are a major threat to this incredibly rare frontier region. It’s also vital for fishing and tourism industries in the region.”

The French energy company, TotalEnergies has been identified as playing ‘an outsized role’ in the offshore and coastal expansion projects analysed. It’s suggested the company is involved in three out of eleven proposed new projects, notably in Namibia, Mozambique, and Papua New Guinea. This is as France prepares to play host to representatives from across the world at the United Nations Ocean Conference next week.

Despite this, there’s hope that the Conference could be a ‘decisive turning point’ when it comes to safeguarding the ocean. 

“Ten years ago, it was bold leadership from France and other decision-makers that crafted the Paris Agreement, and today, they must listen to voices of frontline communities and civil society demanding an end to support for new fossil fuel projects,” said Gerry Arances, executive director of the Centre for Energy, Ecology, and Development.

“We should invest instead in a just transition that protects people and communities.”

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