Bob Brown and Sea Shepherd Launch Operation Kimberley Miinimbi

Operation Kimberley Miinimbi campaign leader Bob Brown in front of the Sea Shepherd flagship, Steve Irwin. Photo: Fair ProjectsIn wake of the Gas Hub 'go ahead', Bob Brown and Sea Shepherd today launched Operation Kimberley Miinimbi, at a press conference alongside the Steve Irwin in Williamstown, Melbourne, Australia.

The controversial Kimberley gas hub has been given conditional go-ahead from Western Australia's environmental watchdog, the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority), even though the EPA’s decision-making process has come under scrutiny after it revealed that four of the five board members stood aside due to conflicts of interest. EPA chairman Dr Vogel, the one remaining board member who made yesterday's decision, even admitted that turbidity from dredging, oil spills, industrial discharges, noise, light and vessel strikes could adversely affect whales, dolphins, turtles, dugong and fish. Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett is pushing ahead with gas factories at James Price Point, just north of Broome, on one of the world’s most unspoiled coastlines, even though whale deaths are inevitable.

Sea Shepherd Calls On its Supporters to Oppose Gas Hub for Aussie Humpbacks

Humpback Whales near James Price Point. Photo: Annabelle SandesThe Western Australian Government, headed up by WA Premier Colin Barnett is pushing ahead with gas factories at James Price Point, north of Broome on one of the world’s most pristine coastlines.

Woodside has already started drilling into reefs and to enable the big ships to come in, there would be further drilling and dredging up to 6 km out to sea. A jetty several kilometres long would also be constructed.

This area is the biggest humpback nursery in the world. Blue whales also pass through to calve further north of the spot. Constructing the gas factories and port would mean noise pollution, destruction of habitat and also boat strikes to whales. If the gas factories went ahead it would open the door to the industrialisation of other parts of the region and could lead to coal and uranium shipments out of the Kimberley wilds.