Sea Shepherd is sending a vessel to fight plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight.

BP has a proposal to drill four exploration wells off the coast about 400 kilometres west of Port Lincoln.

Conservation group Sea Shepherd’s vessel Steve Irwin is on its way to the region, where it will be used to document the environment and raise awareness about BP's plans.

BP will submit an environment plan for the exploration drilling project to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) this month.

Hundreds of protesters turned up to support the Steve Irwin on its way, gathering on SA beaches to raise awareness about the risks of the drilling, especially to the whale sanctuary and whale nursery in the Bight. 

Additionally, the Wilderness Society released a map it says shows where BP wants to drill.