BLOW TO OIL AND GAS PROSPECTORS

Palma.—The Balearic government,. along with its colleagues in Valencia, yesterday said that they welcomed the conclusion of an environmental impact study carried out by the Ministry for Agriculture, Food and the Environment.
While, this is not the study central government will base its final decision on, it did advise against oil and gas prospecting in Balearic and Valencian waters from being allowed to go ahead.
At the moment, British company Cairn Energy, through its Spanish outfit, Capricorn Spain Limited, had permission to go ahead and prospect in the region but there is overwhelming opposition, including from the Balearic government,  to such plans.
In the report, the Ministry highlights the fact that the area in which prospecting is due to take place  is home to two national parks, oceanic Posidonia, a giant seagrass only found in Europe.
What is more,  whales, dolphins and turtles are among the species spotted in the area and the Ministry is worried that prospecting and drilling poses a threat to the marine environment.