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Oil Exploration Project Off the Canary Island's Coast
Date de dépôt 16 Mars 2012Pays : Spain - Département : Les îles Canaries - Ville : Fuerteventura -
Objet
On the 16th of March 2012, the Spanish government gave the green light to a deep water oil exploration project off the coast of the Canary Islands. This decision came as a blow to the strong opposition, made up of environmentalist associations, fishermen, tourism professionals, but also local institutions. Back in 2001, a first round of exploitation operations had been authorised. The presence of oilfields at 70km off the coast had been discovered in 2001, but exploration operations were suspended by the courts in 2004. Exploration in this area would have a direct impact on the marine mammals which pass through these waters during their annual migration. The government of the Canary Islands supports a ‘point-blank dismissal' of the plans. They are worried about the inevitable consequences this exploration would have for the islands' tourism and are planning to take legal action to stop the exploration.
État des lieux
Mobilisation is growing, and the issue has united numerous agents including environmental associations, fishermen, residents, and local authorities. Surfrider Foundation Europe has decided to take part in this new battle and back the committed Keeper. A petition is currently circulating the Surfrider network and can be accessed online. It has already collected more than 15,000 signatures. In March 2012, 22,000 and 12,000 people gathered to assert their opposition to the project in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura respectively. They followed an appeal for mobilisation launched by various associations, including Surfrider and the Keeper. At the beginning of June, Morocco announced its opposition to the project. The country does not agree with the exploration zone set up by the oil company Repsol. Due to its location at 50km off the shores of the Canary Islands, it would actually encroach upon the Moroccan continental shelf.
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