The energy demand is increasing year after year. Due to the increasing depletion of resources and high rate of consumption (because of the fast-growing and ever-increasing population), oil and gas companies are increasing exploratory surveys to find new sea reservoirs. For many years, offshore natural gas and oil production were restricted to shallow waters.
However, as many older deposits have become exhausted, companies and countries have increasingly moved into deeper waters, into areas where fishery-based activities have traditionally played a dominant role in the local and global social economy.
Oil and gas play a major role in a country’s economy. Many of the country’s actions and policies are formulated keeping that perspective in mind.
The fishery is an important industry. It has a vital role in the global economy and is an employment-generating activity. It is also a valued source of food that is high in nutrition and serves millions around the world.
The fuel industry is one of the main sources for the global economy. For this reason, at present, oil and fishing industries need to co-exist by sharing the ocean space. To make the coexistence harmonious and fruitful, there remains a need to develop clear legislation and efficient maritime spatial plans.
Healthy oceans and marine resources are essential for life and global socio-economy. Policies and regulations should not only be based on scientific data but also on the socio-economic analysis of industries operating in marine areas, which depend on natural marine resources for survival.
Healthy oceans and marine resources are essential for life and global socio-economy
Recently, we have seen the inclination of the Government of Pakistan to drill and extract the oil from the seabed for the prosperity of Pakistan’s economy. While doing so, a few measures should be taken as to avoid disturbing the marine habitat, which can result in a rescinding of our fishery resources.
Several scientific studies indicate that seismic surveys, drilling, location of petroleum platforms and ongoing operations related to oil and gas activities at the sea have an impact on fisheries in the area.
According to the integrated ocean management-fisheries, oil, gas and sea-bed mining by FAO, some of the oil and gas marine activities’ impacts on fish have been identified.
Surveying for oil is one of the factors as seismic surveys cause a temporary displacement of marine life due to loud noise. Temporary displacement can have a major impact if seismic surveys are carried out in spawning grounds during spawning seasons.
Another is the location of petroleum platforms. They cause a permanent or temporary displacement of marine life from areas round the platform. Potentially, a major impact occurs if the platform is located near or in the spawning grounds.
Another factor remains oil spills/blowouts as when this comes in contact with fish larvae, eggs and juveniles can have both fatal or non-fatal impacts. Oil spills harm marine habitat.
The use of dispersants to help oil break down has a more negative impact on the environment locally but it minimises the impact at further distances. Dispersants are highly toxic and can have a more negative impact than an oil spill, if not mixed with oil.
The impact on larvae and eggs also depends on the temperature of the water. Higher temperatures result in more active larvae, and, therefore, greater impact. Further, at higher temperatures, more oil will evaporate from the sea surface. There may also be a faster microbial degradation of the oil components.
Also, the on-going operations, displacement, avoidance, the change of navigation patterns for marine life around the platforms are other factors. Constant water discharge from the platform creates local impacts. The level of impact depends on the type and concentration of chemicals/pollutants in water. A potential small oil spill near a platform has local impacts, can cause displacement and have negative developmental effects on the larva, eggs and juveniles.
The coexistence between fisheries, oil and gas as well as deep-sea mining industries is prominent. We cannot disregard the fact that in the same way, the fishery industry is an important industry at a global level, which generates employment and high nutritional-value food. Oil and gas industries are also an important source of income for the world economy. We are a society dependent on sea products, but also dependent on oil, gas and petroleum products. Ideally, clean, economical and efficient energy should be used to propel our ships and industry. Nowadays, fishing, oil and gas operations must coexist. To achieve a harmonious coexistence, it’s essential to foster a good understanding between both sides and take steps to minimise the negative impacts of oil operations on fishing industries as well as to adopt–jointly and individually–measures to protect the marine environment to ensure the sustainability of marine resources. Since its creation in 2007, the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) has sought to enhance sustainable development and protect the marine environment by facilitating the cooperation of all maritime players across sectors and borders.
Pakistan should implement these frameworks and regulations to fulfil the SDG14 (The Life below Water) which aims to sustainably manage and protect the marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution, as well as address the impacts of ocean acidification.
Enhancing the conservation and the sustainable use of ocean-based resources through international law will also help mitigate some challenges faced by our oceans. This would lead to economic prosperity and take Pakistan a step ahead towards the direction of the blue economy.
The writer is a maritime researcher at National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NCMPR)