Seeking to assuage concerns that its operations would severely restrict fishing offshore, ExxonMobil says that the two-mile exclusion zone within its Stabroek Block offshore operations will have only a minute impact on commercial fishing.
“There is a very small exclusion zone around those boats (floating production, storage and offloading [FPSO] platforms). For safety reasons, you can’t come too close to the drilling ship during active operations,” Public Relations Officer of the company, Kimberly Brasington yesterday said.
There have been concerns raised during public scoping meetings organized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA )and the company over how operations will affect the marine life with more recent concerns being raised that the company has restricted fishing over a large mass offshore.