An Italian energy company has applied to carry out an exploration for oil and gas inside highly sensitive special areas of conservation off Aberystwyth, sparking fierce opposition from environmentalists, writes Patrick O’Brien.

Eni UK, a subsidiary of the Rome-based oil and gas multinational Eni SpA, has applied to the UK Government to carry out three-dimensional seismic shooting over nearly 370 square miles of outer Cardigan Bay between Aberystwyth and Wexford.

The application could set Cardiff and London on a collision course following the Welsh government’s declaration last month of a climate emergency, which it is widely assumed will encompass a ban on extraction of fossil fuels.

London-based Orbis Energy carried out an environmental impact assessment for Eni which says the seismic survey area is within the West Wales Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and would extend into the separate Cardigan Bay conservation area and could affect wildlife.

Both stretches of sea are important breeding areas and hunting grounds for bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises, with the West Wales reserve alone thought to support more than 5,200 porpoises for at least part of the year.

In a statement Eni said: “In compliance with both company and regulatory requirements, Eni is committed to carry out environmental impact assessments in any areas where seismic surveys could take place.

However, Eni currently has no planned seismic surveys scheduled for the outer Cardigan Bay area.

“Furthermore, Eni has strict guidelines in terms of monitoring marine life on any seismic surveys it carries out globally and takes its responsibilities very seriously. Any risk to marine life, including aquatic mammals, is heavily mitigated and safeguards are always in place to ensure minimal disruption.”

Environmental group Whale and Dolphin Conservation condemned the application.

And Ceredigion AM Elin Jones said: “I have been made aware over the weekend of this. Like many others, I am concerned that such testing could take place in this sensitive area. I am planning a meeting with constituents, who are very concerned over this issue, in the next few days.”

Orbis said "the potential to be significantly impacted by the proposed 3D seismic survey operations” went beyond dolphins and porpoises to include shellfish, fish spawning and nursery grounds and seabirds.

A company report adds: “Sensitive marine fauna - plankton, fish, marine mammals and seabirds - will be impacted by the proposed underwater emissions generated from the proposed seismic airgun array.”

But it says “no significant residual effects” are predicted.

Scientists have long warned that seismic surveys, which use powerful airguns to explore geological features under the seabed, can physically harm dolphins, porpoises, whales and other marine wildlife, while disrupting their feeding, navigation and social interaction.

Whale and Dolphin Conservation this week condemned the Eni application.

The charity’s senior policy adviser, Mick Green, of Talybont, said: “As with the scalloping, this shows that SACs are nothing but paper designations with no proper protection.

“We strongly oppose a survey. Welsh Government policy is for no extraction of fossil fuels, this area has been extensively seismically surveyed in the past and information is therefore available and does not need to be repeated, and previous surveys have not shown commercial quantities of hydrocarbons in the area.

“The area is now designated as an SAC for harbour porpoise, and the survey will be impacting a large area of the site. We do not think this is compatible with the legal situation regarding protection of cetaceans both within an SAC and in disturbance laws generally.”

He added: “The timing is right in the middle of the breeding period, and we believe that young will be far more susceptible to disturbance and injury than adults.

“There is also a danger that disturbance will lead to young being separated from their mothers, causing certain death.”

• In our original article on the oil exploration plans, it was incorrectly stated that seismic surveys would begin next month and that the surveys would be funded by the UK Government. We are happy to set the record straight.