Whilst the Statement focusses on oil and gas seismic survey programmes planned for the 2015 open-water season by Sakhalin Energy and other operators (particularly Exxon Neftegas Limited and Rosneft), other activities that may disturb gray whales in the Sakhalin area are also mentioned, including salmon fishing in and near the Piltun feeding area.

The Panel stresses that this unfortunate state of affairs, where major seismic activities by several companies are allowed to take place without a carefully planned and integrated monitoring and mitigation plan in place, should not occur again. The Panel believes that the need for dialogue among the operators, the authorities, other stakeholders and the Panel on how to mitigate cumulative acoustic impacts on gray whales off Sakhalin in a multi-operator context is greater than ever before.

Click here to read the full WGWAP Statement of Concern.