Wednesday 29 March 2000

UKOOA Statement: Offshore Activities in the Atlantic Margin

As fields in the North Sea decline, the development of the Atlantic Margin will be crucial to the long-term future of the oil and gas Industry in the UK, preserving jobs, boosting local economies and maintaining the country's energy supply.

The Atlantic Margin is neither 'pristine' nor is it seeing its 'first wave' of development, as claimed by Greenpeace. The Industry has been working in this area for over 25 years: 150 wells have been drilled and two fields are already in production (Foinaven and Schiehallion). During this time, there has been no evidence to suggest damage to the environment.

Offshore oil and gas activities are subjected to extensive environmental assessment and are strictly regulated by European and UK legislation. The regulations that are already in place to protect the environment more than meet the requirements of the Habitats Directive.

The Industry, through the Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network (AFEN), has invested £5 million in research which has significantly improved scientific knowledge of the Atlantic Margin environment and enhanced industry practice.

An area of the seabed the size of Belgium has been mapped, with no evidence of coral reefs found. A five-year programme of monitoring whales and dolphins in the area has provided the first detailed information about the behaviour and characteristics of marine mammals in the area.

There is no evidence to suggest that oil and gas extraction and good environmental management are incompatible.

For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.