- The South Wales Navy pressed ahead with underwater explosives training on Wednesday, despite weeks of protests.
- The explosion occurred in False Bay, near Boulders Beach, where a large colony of endangered African penguins nest.
- Residents said there were five explosions over a three-hour period, and strong vibrations were felt in the building, causing windows to rattle.
- For climate change news and analysis, visit: News24 The future of climate.
At noon on Wednesday, despite weeks of protests, two SA Navy boats took to False Bay in front of Simon's Town and detonated explosives as part of the navy's diver training programme.
The explosion occurred within a marine reserve, less than a mile from Boulders Beach, where a large colony of endangered African penguins nest. The underwater explosion was so powerful that water spewed out, and residents of Simon's Town felt the impact, according to eyewitness accounts, videos and photos.
Simon's Town resident Katerina Sontagova, who was present at the time of the explosion and filmed it, said there were about five explosions in a three-hour period.
Sontagova, who has actively lobbied for the cancellation of the Navy's maritime exercises, said the bomb caused such strong vibrations that buildings and windows could be rattled and vibrated.
Sound is not amplified underwater, but it travels about four times faster and further than in air.
This has raised concerns about potential blast damage to marine life in False Bay and further afield, as well as the expiration of the deadline. Many animals use sound to communicate, find food, avoid predators, mate, and navigate.
SANParks previously told News24 it was working with senior SA Navy leadership and marine biologists planned to track the impact of the exercise. News24 contacted SANParks about the results of the initiative and whether the data was tracked as planned. This article will be updated if we receive a response.
biodiversity hotspot
False Bay is rich in biodiversity and is home to many unique marine species. Marine experts say dusky dolphins, Bryde's whales and southern right whales have recently been sighted in the bay.
“An underwater explosion in one area of False Bay could well affect a wide range of marine life throughout this marine system. Currently recognized as one of the eight natural wonders of the world, Africa The Great Marine Forest is on the edge of the region,” Sea Search, a research and conservation organization founded by marine scientists Simon Elwen and Tess Gridley, said in a statement.
They added:
The past few decades have brought major changes to False Bay, from pollution to fishing to poaching, decimating many species of commercial and reef fish, and leaving the bay vulnerable. Many species also live in this benthic layer. This extremely small penguin colony is probably one of the last standing for a species that will become functionally extinct within about a decade.
Since the South African Navy announced the explosives drill in mid-January, organizations from the Democratic Alliance to Extinction Rebellion, South African Wildlife and Environment Society (Wessa), Birdlife SA, Two Oceans Aquarium, Green Connection and others have spoken out, and many others have spoken out. of people request that an environmental impact assessment be carried out. And the City of Cape Town not only wants the evaluation, but they also want these exercises to be moved.
Read | City of Cape Town wants to research and relocate SA Navy's False Bay explosives exercise
less reaction
The SA Navy's responses to two sets of questions sent earlier were the same.
The department said in a statement that the training will take place at a designated and charted Shallow Demolitions range.
“The range limit for underwater explosives is 5 kg, which has been in effect since its inception in the 1980s,” the Navy said, without responding to any questions about its impact on the marine environment.
As Sea Search and Wessa pointed out, naval exercises could be seen as violating certain international laws and treaties to which SA is a signatory. Sea Change said it was advocating for the Navy to apply the precautionary principle.
The precautionary principle means that measures should be taken to prevent harmful effects even if there is not yet scientific evidence or certainty of environmental damage.
“This principle is enshrined in a number of international treaties, including the Rio Declaration and the Convention on the Law of the Sea. SA is a signatory to both these treaties and is therefore legally bound.”
Read | See also | 14 young sea turtles released from Cape Point to track 'lost years'
I'm not surprised
Following Wednesday's explosion, Extinction Rebellion's Kaci Goodman said environmental activist groups were disappointed but not surprised. Mr. Goodman helped coordinate protests outside the Naval Detachment in Simon's Town every morning leading up to the deadline for the bombing drill.
“The Navy seems to think it is above the law and operates with impunity,” she said.
“We reiterate our call for an immediate halt to underwater bombing and live ammunition firing into the bay, and for the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment to compel the Navy to conduct a comprehensive environmental impact assessment by independent scientists. All our activities take place in Simon’s Town.”
Renee Bonouchis has been contracted by Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation to manage the African Penguin Survival Campaign in 2023. She also volunteers with turtle conservation programs and is a marine science student at the aquarium. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of Two Oceans Aquarium, Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, or any of its affiliates.
