A collection of dolphin sand sculptures was the centrepiece of a protest against gas exploration off the east coast on Tuesday.
As Advent Energy – the company conducting seismic testing about 30km from Newcastle this week – continued its operation, protestors gathered at Nobby’s Beach to voice their fears that shooting acoustic pulses into the ocean floor will harm the marine environment.
Dennis Massoud, a well known artist based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, said he travelled to Newcastle to create dolphin sand sculptures as part of the protest because he had “grave concerns about the environment”.
Read more: Protest against seismic testing moves ahead
He was worried about the impact of seismic testing on dolphin populations and whale migration, which was a “major tourist attraction” in his home town.
“I hope that people are more aware that we aren’t the only thing on the planet,” he said. “We think the whole world revolves around us and it’s for us, but it isn’t.”
Advent Energy says its operation will not have a negative impact on the environment.
Nick Bielby
Nick Bielby is a crime reporter who has been with the Newcastle Herald since 2017.
Nick Bielby is a crime reporter who has been with the Newcastle Herald since 2017.
