1. 1. The environmental impacts of oil and gas mining 2. The current impacts on the Ningaloo Reef 3. The potential future impacts from oil and gas mining 4. The management for the Ningaloo Reef future 5. The action that needs to be taken to sustain the reef 6. My Reflection Hodson_Katheryn_ _Assignment2B1

The Environmental Impacts of Oil and Gas Mining The current environmental impact to the reef is sound pollution from seismic testing and small amount of chemical pollution. The potential future environmental impacts are a oil or ship spill caused by oil and gas mining. The photo “Ningaloo Reef”(Daniel Hutching Art, n.d.) Hodson_Katheryn_ _Assignment2B2

The Current Impacts on the Ningaloo Reef Seismic testing near the reef has caused marine life to leave the area. A chemical spill at Muiron Island has left little impact due to the quick action of the company involved. (International fund for Animal Welfare, 2013 ) The photo “_VSO_buoys_shot_bubble_illustration_255x147” (ION Geophysical Corporation, 2013) Hodson_Katheryn_ _Assignment2B3

The Potential Future Impacts from Oil and Gas Mining The has been no large scale oil spills to date in Australian waters. The effects of a large scale oil spill could destroy ecosystems and marine life for many years. The impact from a shipping accident could cause the whole Ningaloo Reef to be wiped out. (Jackson, Cubit, Keller, Batista, Burns, Caffey, Caldwell, Garrity, Getter, Gonzalez, Guzman, Kaufenn, Knap, Levings, Marshall, Steger, Thompson & Well, 1989, p.37), (Charles, Rice, Short, Esler, Bodkin Ballachey & Irons, 2003) The photo “Exxon-Valdez-oil-spill” (Raunek Kantharia, 2014) Hodson_Katheryn_ _Assignment2B 4

The Management for the Ningaloo Reef Future The government have put policy and management plans in place to sustain and the reef such as the commonwealth waters management plan. The oil and gas companies are required to complete environmental survey and risk assessment before attempting mining. These are subject to public review. (Environment Australia, 2002), (Stejskal, 2000) The photo “Ningaloo-1”(I Dive Sharks, n.d.) Hodson_Katheryn_ _Assignment2B5

The Action that Needs to be Taken to Sustain the Reef Further action needs to be taken to stop probing, such as more policy and restrictions being put in place. The continual support of government policy will ensure the reef is sustained for the future. (Offshore Energy Today, 2013), (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Pollution and Communities, 2013) The photo “sp_whale_shark_ningaloo_900x600_7932” (WWF, n.d.) Hodson_Katheryn_ _Assignment2B6

My Reflection What knowledge have I gained? I have learnt the environmental impacts that oil and mining have caused to the Ningaloo Reef. I have learnt to locate, define and question different types of data. I have learnt to curate and synthesis information to form my inquiry. I have learnt to evaluate different topics and relate them to different parts of the curriculum. Hodson_Katheryn_ _Assignment2B7

References Charles, H., Rice, S., Short, J., Esler, J., Bodkin, J., Ballachey, B. & Irons, D. (2003). Long-term ecosystem response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Science, 302, DOI: /science Daniel Hutching Art. (n.d.). Ningaloo Reef [Image]. Retrieved from Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Pollution and Communities. (2013). Apache energy limited: Highlands 3D marine seismic survey, offshore Western (EPBC 2012/6680). Retrieved from Environment Australia. (2002). Ningaloo marine park (Commonwealth waters) management plan. Canberra, Environment Australia I Dive Sharks. (n.d.). Ningaloo-1 [Image]. Retrieved from International Fund for Animal Welfare. (2013). Breaking the silence: How noise pollution is harming whales. Retrieved from ION Geophysical Corporation. (2013) _VSO_buoys_shot_bubble_illustration_255x147 [Image]. Retrieved from Jackson,J., Cubit,j., Keller, B., Batista, V., Burns, k., Caffey, H., Caldwell, R., Garrity, S., Getter,C., Gonzalez,C., Guzman, H., Kaufenn, K., Knap, A., Levings, S., Marshall, M., Steger, R., Thompson, R. & Well, E. (1989). Ecological effects of a major oil spillon the Panamanian coastal marine communities. Science, 243, Retrieved from May, R. (1992). Marine conservation reserves, petroleum exploration and development, and oil spills in coastal waters of Western Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 25(5), Retrieved from Offshore Energy Today. (2013). No seismic surveys in world heritage area, Australian gov’t says. Retrieved from heritage-area-australian-govt-says/ heritage-area-australian-govt-says/ Raunek Kantharia (2014)Exxon-Valdez-oil-spill [Image]. Retrieved from response/attachment/exxon-valdez-oil-spilhttp:// response/attachment/exxon-valdez-oil-spil Stejskal, I.V. (2000). Obtaining approvals for oil and gas projects in shallow water marine areas in Western Australia using an environmental risk Assessment framework. Spill Science and Technology Bulletin, 6(1), DOI: 10 WWF. (n.d.). sp_whale_shark_ningaloo_900x600_7932 [Image]. Retrieved from Hodson_Katheryn_ _Assignment2B8