A court in South Africa has ordered Shell to halt a seismic campaign off the Wild Coast, a section of the nation’s Eastern Cape region.

According to The Maritime Executive, the company has chartered the seismic vessel Amazon Warrior to survey an area of about 1,800 square nautical miles off the coast, and began work about a month ago.

Environmental activists and indigenous rights groups filed suit to block this operation, and a high court in Makhanda issued an order asking the company to stop work.

Shell and South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy were also ordered to pay the plaintiff’s legal costs.

Judge Gerald Bloem said Shell had not adequately consulted communities with customary fishing rights in the area.

The plaintiffs argued that the seismic campaign posed a reasonable risk of harm to marine resources, potentially affecting fishermens’ livelihoods, and would interfere with longstanding cultural and spiritual practices.

Meaningful consultation with affected communities is a legal requirement and was not reportedly conducted, so the judge determined that Shell’s exploration licence was ‘unlawful and invalid’ and ordered a halt to the campaign.

Attorney Wilmein Wicomb, of the Legal Resources Centre, said, “The case has huge significance in that it shows that no matter how big a company is, it ignores local communities at its peril.

“This case is really a culmination of the struggle of communities along the Wild Coast for the recognition of their customary rights to land and fishing, and to respect for their customary processes”

A Shell spokesperson said, “We respect the court’s decision and have paused the survey while we review the judgement.”

According to the ruling, Shell must halt survey work, unless it chooses to appeal.