Dead Dolphin Beached in New Jersey Brings Tally to 6 Since Mid-Feb

Another dead dolphin has been beached in New Jersey, which brings the tally to six since mid-February.

The dead dolphin, the sixth to be discovered on the shores of the Garden State since mid-February, was found at the Leonardo State Marina in Middletown, a state-run marina in New Jersey on Wednesday night, around 6 PM.

6th Beached Dead Dolphin

While waiting for a response from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Mayor Tony Perry urged people to stay away from the area.

Since the middle of February, at least five additional dolphins have been discovered along the New Jersey coast, including three that were marooned in shallow water on a Sandy Hook beach and died within a few hours of one another.

A fourth dolphin that washed ashore in Atlantic Highlands and then a fifth dolphin in Avalon quickly followed these deaths.

Later, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, the Avalon dolphin passed away from pneumonia and pulmonary necrosis.

In addition to the recent dolphin deaths, NJ Advance Media reported that 11 whale carcasses have been beached on the New Jersey and New York shorelines since early December.

Wind Energy Developments Off-Shore New Jersey

Cindy Zipf of Clean Ocean Action described the whale deaths as "bad news on top of bad news" when the seventh dead whale, which is a 20-foot humpback, washed up in Brigantine in January.

Zipf and other activists blame offshore wind development for the coastal tragedies and have urged Gov. Phil Murphy to halt current projects so that the matter can be looked into.

However, the DEP reported on Wednesday that no offshore wind farms have been built off the coast of New Jersey, meaning there isn't solid proof that activities related to offshore wind surveys could result in whale deaths.

The agency went on to say that while DEP will continue to monitor, there is currently no evidence to support the claim that offshore wind-related activities are to blame for whale deaths.

The DEP also clarified its continued concern over rising ocean temperatures brought on by the burning of fossil fuels, which endangers marine life, New York Post reports.

Also Read: Dead Sperm Whale Found in Hawaii Beach with Fishing Nets, Traps, Marine Debris in Stomach 

Wind Turbines and Wildlife

According to NOAA Fisheries, researchers are still examining the potential effects of marine life development for offshore wind energy. Marine life could be impacted by site evaluation, construction, and operations in the water, on the seabed, and above the surface. Offshore wind energy projects, according to experts, may raise ocean noise, which may have an impact on the behavior of fish, whales and dolphins, and other species.

Additionally, it might present electromagnetic fields that have an impact on fish and shellfish reproduction as well as communication, predator detection, and navigation.

Another negative effect is that it might alter local or regional hydrodynamics, which would change existing habitats, and it might also have a "reef effect," where marine life gathers around the abrasive surfaces of wind developments.

The stages of an organism's life cycle, such as spawning and larval dispersal, are also being impacted, according to experts. Additionally, it might alter species diversity, distribution, abundance, and survival rates.

Increased vessel traffic, which might result in more vessel collisions, and the release of contaminants that marine life can ingest or absorb are other negative effects.

The use of offshore wind in our marine waters is new and needs extensive scientific and governmental review.

Related Article: Beached Whale in Virginia Beach Adds to String of Unusual Deaths, Third This Week