Update on last month’s whale story. Sadly we’re seeing more and more whales washing up on our beaches. While we appreciate our local mayors for addressing this problem, more needs to be done. New Jersey already has more than half a dozen different whale species, including the Humpback, on their wildlife protection list. Locals are coming together to question whether the offshore wind farms are responsible for the unusually high number of dead whales washing ashore. A rally by the group Protect Our Coast-NJ is planned for Sunday, February 19th at 1 pm in front of Jenkinson’s Aquarium on the Point Pleasant boardwalk.

Another dead whale washes up along the Jersey Shore

A dead whale washed up off the coast of Manasquan, making the incident at least the ninth whale found dead on the coasts of New York and New Jersey. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center team is on the scene to try to determine what type of whale it was and what caused it to die. Around 20 whales have been found dead in the last few months along the entire East Coast. It has become an environmental concern.

A dozen New Jersey mayors signed a letter to Congress, calling for the immediate stoppage of all offshore wind farm research. There is division on the issue. Local environmental groups, such as Clean Ocean Action, have also said the link to wind farms and the dead whales need to be looked at.

“We’re looking at a massive industrialization of the ocean never ever even imagined and this is just the precursor of that. We’re already seeing so many dead whales,” says Cindy Zipf, of Clean Ocean Action. Some climate activists say it’s premature to make the connection. Federal environmental and energy officials have said that the offshore wind power industry is not to blame. Local officials are advising people to stay away from the carcass – mainly because it is still not clear what is causing the deaths.

Source: News12 New Jersey