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17.06.2015 Science

Oil Exploration Is Causing More Whale Deaths

By Lucy Baagyei-Danso
Oil Exploration Is Causing More Whale Deaths
17.06.2015 LISTEN

Friends of the Nation, a non- governmental organization (NGO)has fingered oil and gas exploration as the cause of the soaring whale deaths.

According to the NGO, though the death of whales was not an uncommon phenomenon, the frequency within the last few years was very worrying. “Since 2009, when oil exploration and production became intensive in Ghana, about 16 whales have been washed ashore”.

In a statement, the organization said the increasing death rates had caused public resentment and assumptions that interferences of ocean noise and vibrations from sonar and seismic exploration activities and collision with oil and gas infrastructure or even pollution in the marine environment are to be blamed for the sudden death toll. .

Friends of the Nation has on several occasions raised the issue of sudden death of whales with the regulatory agencies such as the Fisheries Commission, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency.

Friends of the Nation called for official investigation on the recent deaths of the mammals was in a way affecting the lives of the people living along the coast. Anytime whales are washed ashore, they are left helpless to deal with the pungent smell from the dead mammals as well dealing with the decomposing carcasses.

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