What’s happening to whales off of the Jersey Shore’s iconic coastline?
A growing chorus of Jersey Shore legislators – led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R, NJ-02) – are demanding a cessation of offshore wind development following the mysterious deaths of at least seven whales since the beginning of December as at least some evidence suggests wind turbine site exploration is playing a role.
“We join with our fellow legislators at the State and Federal levels in calling for an immediate, emergency moratorium on all offshore wind turbine developments until we can have scientific assurances that these projects are not harming vital fisheries and our marine ecosystems along New Jersey’s coastline,” said Assembly members Gerry Scharfenberger and Victoria Flyyn (R-13) on Friday afternoon. “Our concerns have grown exponentially with each report citing another whale washing ashore. The sensitivity of sea life to electromagnetic fields as well as disturbances in migration routes is astounding. Until we know for a certainty that these new wind turbines are not harming marine animals – we must halt any and all projects to ensure against further harm.”
“A delay in doing so could have drastic consequences to wildlife both on and off the shore as well as to our historic commercial and recreational fishing industries which rely heavily on a healthy oceanic ecosystem,” the pair added.
Flynn and Scharfenberger represent portions of Monmouth County including Hazlet, Sea Bright, and Union Beach.
LD2’s State Senator Vincent Polistina (R-2) of Atlantic County has also called for halting offshore wind development, a top Murphy Administration priority. Governor Murphy announced yet another offshore wind project earlier this week.
