A Montevideo civil court has dismissed an injunction filed by environmental groups and fishing unions seeking to halt seismic prospection activities in Uruguay's exclusive economic zone, allowing French geophysical firm Viridien (CGG Services) to continue operations on an offshore block assigned to Chevron. The court rejected the case on procedural grounds, ruling that the matter had already been decided by a prior injunction brought by the National Human Rights Institution (INDDHH), which was dismissed on appeal in February 2026. The ruling is the second consecutive legal setback for opponents of the exploration, which forms part of the Uruguay Open Round — a licensing process through which state energy company ANCAP (Uruguay's national oil and gas corporation) awarded seven offshore blocks to companies including Chevron, Shell, YPF and APA Corporation, representing over $150 million in seismic investment alone. Plaintiffs, who argued the high-intensity sound waves used in seismic surveys damage marine fauna and threaten fishing livelihoods, say they will appeal; the first phase of the seismic campaign covers 2,645 square kilometres roughly 180 kilometres offshore and is due to conclude in April.