Ocean paddle protests oil mine

Surfrider Foundation organises their anti-mining message on Noosa beach.

By Margaret Maccoll

The wildlife species of the Great Australian Bight comprise 6000 invertebrates, 1200 plants, 350 fish, 16 seabird and 33 mammal and about 85 per cent live no where else on earth, according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Protecting this unique environment by preventing proposed oil mining by Norwegian energy company Equinor was the reason about 100 people paddled out into the water at Noosa Heads Main Beach on Sunday morning and staged a visual protest organised by Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast (SFSC).

SRSC president Stephen James said as surf riders travelled the coastline of Australia in search of waves the organisation responded nationally to protect any region they identified to be under threat.

He said their aim was to send a message of protest against the oil drilling to Norway.