ExxonMobil, has confirmed that marine life, including fish, can be affected by poor water quality as a result of the planned petroleum activities. In its most recent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the seventh deepwater development, Exxon’s Consultant, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), details the impacts on fish and other marine species. The impact of the oil and gas sector on the fishing industry has been widely debated, with fisherfolk complaining of reduced catches since 2019, government denying that the petroleum sector is responsible, and Exxon’s clear warnings in these documents.

According to the new EIA for the Hammerhead project: “The project might affect marine fish due to the degradation of water quality as a result of the permitted vessel discharges described above, through acoustic impacts, through localized changes in distribution, and habitat usage due to altered bottom habitats and the presence of Project infrastructure, through attraction to artificial light, and through the potential to entrain (suck in) fish eggs and larvae at cooling water intakes.” Discharge from the project includes ballast water, produced water (which, according to the study, may contain oil, grease, and other chemicals), domestic and sanitary waste (containing chlorine and bacteria), as well as bilge water (which may also contain oil and grease). These discharges are expected to be treated by ExxonMobil to meet certain standards, prior to being discharged overboard.

According to the document, modeling conducted by ExxonMobil’s consultant found that water quality will return to ‘near-background conditions’  within 100 meters of the Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO). Consequently, it suggested that the affected area will be very small. Additionally, ERM claimed that fish are mobile and are known to avoid areas with degraded water quality. Notably, the study goes on to highlight the socio-economic impacts on fisherfolk. It states, “Impacts on fishing livelihoods may arise due to increased vessel traffic and/or exclusion zones in the nearshore area, which is expected to have a potential minor impact on artisanal fisherfolk and negligible impact on industrial fishing operators.” (Kaieteur News)