AmericasOffshore

Canada’s Supreme Court overturns approval for seismic testing off Nunavut

The Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday overturned approval for seismic testing in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, stopping for the time being plans for offshore oil and gas development in those places, according to Reuters.

In making its decision the court in Ottawa ruled that indigenous groups had not been accorded adequate consultation and input. Baffin Bay and Davis Strait are off the Canadian territory of Nunavut in the north of the country.

Seismic testing is a precursor to oil and gas exploration and development.

In this case the court found that the Inuit people who hunt nearby had not been adequately consulted regarding plans for a Norwegian consortium to do seismic tests.

So, the court overruled the approval that had been given by Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB), the industry regulator.

Donal Scully

With 28 years experience writing and editing for newspapers in the UK and Hong Kong, Donal is now based in California from where he covers the Americas for Splash as well as ensuring the site is loaded through the Western Hemisphere timezone.
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