#COASTAL NOTES - The Norwegian people have “no idea of what’s being done in their name” at the Corrib Gas Field, a Scandinavian economist has told The Irish Times.
Bjørnar Nicolaisen was speaking on the role of Norwegian firm Statoil in the controversial project, following his visit with residents in North Mayo on the invitation of community mediation group Pobal Chill Chomáin.
The fisherman-turned-economist also echoed concerns regarding the impact on marine wildlife in the area by the seismic surveying currently being carried out on the gas field.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has lodged a complaint with the European Commission and the Department of Energy, indicating that the department could be in breach of the EU habitats directive for licensing the seismic survey without providing adequate protection for aquatic wildlife in an area that is part of Ireland's coast-wide whale and dolphin sanctuary.
Calls have also come for a safety review of the project's infrastructure after Ireland's biggest earthquake in years struck just 23km from the Corrib field earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Statoil spokesman Bård Glad Pedersen told The Irish Times that the company believes “it is possible to conduct seismic surveys and develop oil and gas projects while protecting fisheries”.