12 New Jersey Mayors Call For Moratorium On Wind Surveying Projects Until It Can Be Determined That They Are Not Responsible For Increased Whale Deaths

12 NJ MAYORS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON ALL OFFSHORE WIND ACTIVITY

The NOAA has made several statements, along with Greenpeace and other organizations, that there is no evidence to tie the recent spike in whale deaths near New York City and New Jersey’s coasts to the sonic equipment used in offshore wind development and assesment projects.

However, these mayors signed a letter back in January asking for a moratorium on new permits until it can be definitively determined that the deaths had nothing to do with the offshore wind projects. One of the few ways in which this can be studied woud be to autopsy the animal’s ears. However, due to the fast rate of decay of the auditory organs, this has been difficult to do thus far.

The NOAA and Greenpeace are fairly certain that the whale deaths are due solely to entanglements and accidents, but some concerned residents have pointed out the possibility that the increase in entanglements and collisions may be due to disorientation or other problems related to the sonic interference of the drilling and acoustic surveys. Over a recent 38-day period in New Jersey, 7 whales washed ashore.

According to The Heartland Institute, a leading free-market think-tank, the ramping up of large scale wind projects has a direct correlation to the increase in whale deaths. Here is a quote from their article:

“The “unusual mortality” data is astounding. Basically the humpback death rate roughly tripled starting in 2016 and continued high thereafter. You can see it here.

But the claim that this huge jump in mortality predates offshore wind preparation activities is wildly false. In fact it coincides with the large scale onset of these activities. This strong correlation is strong evidence of causation, especially since no other possible cause has appeared.

To begin with, offshore lease sales really geared up 2015-16, with nine big sales off New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Massachusetts. These sales must have generated a lot of activity, likely including potentially damaging sonar.

In fact 2016 also saw the beginning of what are called geotechnical and site characterization surveys. These surveys are actually licensed by NOAA Fisheries, under what are called Incidental Harassment Authorizations or IHA’s.

There is some seriously misleading jargon here. IHA’s are incidental to some other activity, in this case offshore wind development. They are not incidental to the whales. In fact the term “harassment” specifically includes injuring the whales. That is called ‘level A harassment’.

To date NOAA has issued an astounding 46 one-year IHA’s for offshore wind sites. Site characterization typically includes the protracted use of what I call “machine gun sonar”. This shipboard device emits an incredibly loud noise several times a second, often for hours at a time, as the ship slowly maps the sea floor.

Mapping often takes many days to complete. A blaster can log hundreds of miles surveying a 10-by-10 mile site. Each IHA is typically for an entire year.”

This is an unprecented number, “more than has ever been recorded in the State of New Jersey in such a small amount of time” according to the letter. The evidence is still incomplete, and a moratorium may well be the best way to determine for certain the cause of these additional deaths in the area. However, there has not as of yet been any pause for the licenses or the surveys, and due to the adamant denial of the possibility of attributing wind surveys to the increased rate of strandings, there may not be any moratorium. A possible consequence of the full-steam ahead approach being currently undertaken is the possibility of complete extinction of right whales and other severely endangered whale species.

The alarming number of recent whale deaths has prompted 12 mayors of New Jersey coastal towns to call for immediate moratorium on all offshore wind activity pending a thorough investigation by federal and state authorities. In a letter to federal and state officials, the mayors express their concern about “the unprecedented number of whales that have washed ashore recently.”

Concerns that acoustic surveys related to offshore wind development may be a contributing factor in the 7 recent whale deaths that occurred over a 38-day period – more than has ever been recorded in the State of New Jersey in such a small amount of time – has brought strong opposition from local environmental groups and residents. This morning, the 8th dead whale in the New Jersey and New York area washed ashore on Lido Beach, New York.

The officials represent the communities of Wildwood Crest, North Wildwood, Stone Harbor, Linwood, Brigantine, Long Beach Township, Mantoloking, Bay Head, Point Pleasant Beach, Spring Lake, and Deal. Additional communities in New Jersey have moved to consider resolutions for an immediate moratorium on offshore wind activity as well. The mayors’ letter emphasizes that “While we are not opposed to clean energy, we are concerned about the impacts these projects may already be having on our environment.” Offshore wind developers have obtained permits for the “incidental taking” of whales, which would typically be illegal under federal law.

This could include potential injury to whales, such as damaging their hearing, or by causing behavioral disruptions in feeding and migration. In response to similar concerns, Benjamin Laws, Deputy Chief for the Permits and Conservation Division with the NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, says that “there is an expectation that the work will impact marine life, including whales.”

NOAA and other self- described environmental groups denounce the lack of evidence about the cause for these recent whale deaths and nevertheless encourage the wind industry and Governor Murphy to press on with his plan to install 11.5 GW of offshore wind projects in New Jersey.

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The mayors call for an immediate moratorium on all offshore wind activity pending a thorough investigation by federal and state agencies “that confidently determines” the offshore wind activities are not a contributing factor in the recent whale deaths.

The text of the letter:

12 New Jersey Coastal Mayors Unite in Calling for a Moratorium on All Offshore Wind Activity Until Investigations are Held

Dear Members of the New Jersey Delegation, The 12 undersigned mayors of New Jersey coastal communities stand united in their concern about the unprecedented number of whales that have washed ashore recently and call for an immediate moratorium on all offshore wind activities until an investigation is held by federal and state agencies that confidently determines these activities are not a contributing factor to recent whale deaths.

On January 12th, the 7th dead whale in 38 days washed ashore in Brigantine, New Jersey.

The unprecedented number of whale strandings coincides with ongoing activity from acoustic survey vessels for the development of offshore wind. While we are not opposed to clean energy, we are concerned about the impacts these projects may already be having on our environment.

We urge you to take action now to prevent future deaths from needlessly occurring on our shorelines. We thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this letter.

Banner Image: Humpback Whale. Image Credit – Todd Cravens