South Africa has suspended oil and gas exploration off the east coast after environmentalist complained that companies had gone an earlier agreed program to start the first phase of Seismic test in January, Live Mint quoted an AFP report.

The government-run Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) halted seismic surveys along a pristine stretch of coast pending discussions between international oil firms and an environmentalist who blew the whistle on the out-of-season tests.

“The agency has deemed it imperative to suspend seismic operations until the process of consultation is completed, and a report submitted to the agency this week,” spokeswoman Althea Adonis told AFP.

Companies compile a three-dimensional map of the seabed by bouncing sound waves off undersea rock formations to detect deposits.

Local environmental consultant Paul Martin complained to PASA this week over non-compliance with an environmental management program that only allows for the survey to take place from January to mid-March every year, but explorers had already started in December—disrupting the seasonal migration of humpback whales.

“This is the first stage of oil exploration off the coast and they go and stuff up the first stage. They just ride roughshod over what was agreed,” Martin told AFP.

“We all want sustainable development, but if at stage one those involved aren’t going to comply with what is in their authorization, what trust do we have in them?”

Five international companies, among them Anglo-Dutch Shell and London-based NewAge African Global Energy, have licences for seismic surveys along the east coast from Jeffreys Bay to the Wild Coast, AFP said.