South African Fishermen Sue Oil Exploration Project

On 21 May, South African fishermen from Portnolloth, in conjunction with environmental organizations, launched a lawsuit to halt oil and gas exploration activities by the British company TGS and the French company Total on the west coast. The plaintiffs point out that the Environmental Impact Assessment report underestimates the harm to marine life from noise from seismic exploration, as well as the threat to cod and sardine spawning areas from oil spills. The case reflects the tension between energy security and ecological protection in developing countries and, if lost, could accelerate the industrialization of South Africa’s coastline.