SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif- PG&E cleared another hurdle to run it's advanced seismic studies on the Central Coast. With one step closer, it worries some biologists that the techniques used will hurt marine and mammal life.
Air guns will emit sounds that will reflect off the ocean bottom to measure the seismicity of the area. "That impact damages their tissue one way or another, some will die directly," says Gordon Hensley, San Luis Obispo's Coast Keeper.
PG&E says the studies are planned for November-December, a time where there are less mammals in the Central Coast waters. The studies are planned for the same time next year. The concern is that mammals sonar hearing can be damaged causing disorientation and possible death.
PG&E says they will work to mitigate potential impacts to marine life by having trained observers on the vessels during testing. "The trained observers will be looking for marine life, and should a mammal be spotted in the survey area, all operations will cease," said Blair Jones, a PG&E spokesperson.
Hensley says this may not be the solution. "As the pressure waves move through the water, how far away is far enough away?" Biologists are also concerned about fish in the area that could potentially be killed from the testing or leave the surrounding areas completely. This could in turn, hurt commercial fishing.
PG&E has made an offer to commercial fishers to compensate for the time they wont be able to work in the area and for potential losses. The offer is in excess of a million dollars based on their findings from previous earnings during this time. Both parties are still in talks.
