Peru’s NGO ORCA has finally published its final report in regard to marine mammals’ die off in Lambayeque. While we definitely commend ORCA for all work done and for standing their ground, the report has some areas we find quite puzzling.
1. While the report concludes that the die off was due to acoustic trauma, embolism, it only makes one reference to Big Oil in a list of previously described causes for acoustic trauma. In other words while ORCA insisting on acoustic trauma/embolism as a reason for die off, it does not specifically discuss any particular oil companies that can be implicated in Peru’s die off.
This is strange and is somewhat similar to what BlueVoice tried to communicate to media all over the place. This is what Blue Voice has been saying about Peru’s die off:
- “In his last report to BlueVoice he [Dr. Yaipen, ORCA] stated acoustical trauma to be the cause of the MME. He does not identify the cause of this trauma.” source
- “Many have blamed seismic testing by oil companies but the UME began before the oil companies began testing in 2012″ source (not entirely true actually based on data we have)
This is very confusing and there is obviously something going on that makes everybody to tread carefully and not to bring BPZ, Savia and SK Energy into this conversation. Why exactly??
2. Beaked whale stranding is not mentioned at all.
3. Absolutely no information about where, when and how BPZ, Savia and SK Energy have been doing their seismic surveys, no mentions, no maps, no dates, nothing. Why exactly?
The Bottom Line: The report is strange. On a good side it definitely points out to embolism, and acoustic trauma as reasons for die off. On a bad side, it provides zero information on any seismic testing that has been going on in the area. In fact, it goes to great lengths not to mention any specific companies, dates, locations, etc. This is actually a big disservice because it takes away a lot from the usefulness of such report. Dolphins died of decompression/acoustic trauma, yet we play nice and do not drag any Big Oil into this report. This is just bizarre, just like BlueVoice insistence that Big Oil is not involved is bizarre.
