Fracking the Ocean

Fracking, a process to extract natural gas from reserves in shale deposits, is in use in over thirty states in the U.S. and is being investigated for use in Africa and elsewhere. It has been utilized for almost ten years in some areas and the outcomes have fueled a heated debate about its practice. In this episode of World Ocean Radio, host Peter Neill will explain what fracking has to do with the ocean: from toxic emissions which increase ocean acidification, to the water cycle--both in the use of vast amounts of fresh water and in the toxicity to the water table.

"What astonishes me about this is that we have done it all before. It is not new news. We have polluted the earth; we have polluted the air; and now, we are repeating exactly the same rationale to justify this initiative and polluting our water, fresh and salt. It makes no sense." Peter Neill

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Peter Neill, Director of the W2O and host of World Ocean Radio, provides coverage of a broad spectrum of ocean issues from science and education to advocacy and exemplary projects. World Ocean Radio, a project of the World Ocean Observatory, is a weekly series of five-minute audio essays available for syndicated use at no cost by community radio stations worldwide.

Image credit: inhabitat.com | Cornell Study