Conservationists say an oil spill in the pristine
area off Margaret River would cause devastating
pollution.
Conservationists are angry over the Federal Government's decision to allow oil drilling off Margaret River in Western Australia.
They want a ban on exploration but the Government says shutting down the oil and gas industry is not an option.
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has said the strongest safety and environment protection regulations will be in place.
Conservation Council spokesman Tim Nicol has condemned the decision to allow exploration off one of Australia's great surfing spots.
"Margaret River is an icon in Western Australia of our clean, green environment both on land with the wineries and the forest and then the ocean with our great West Australian seafood and our beautiful clean beaches and our surfing lifestyle," he said.
"To slap an oil lease in a proposed marine sanctuary just right off the coast of Margaret River is a big thing for Western Australia."
Mr Nicol says if there is enough public pressure companies may not go ahead with exploration in the lease area, 90 kilometres off the coast.
He says there is more unique marine life off WA's south-west than there is on the Great Barrier Reef.
"The south-west marine environment is home to 90 per cent unique marine life and up to half of the world's whale and dolphin species, and a new oil and gas development brings new seismic activity and we know that has impacts on whales," he said.
"The debate really is about what impacts... how much of an impact that has.
"It also brings smaller spills and pollution into the marine environment and of course the risk of a big spill like we have seen in Louisiana, like we have in the Montara in Western Australia just last year.
"A spill of that size in the south-west would see oil from Perth right through to Margaret River."
A coalition of environment groups has been running a campaign for a network of marine sanctuaries to be established off Australia's coastline.
A spokesman for Mr Ferguson says the area off Margaret River will still be evaluated as a marine reserve but he says that will occur within the framework of existing oil and gas leases.
