Press Release
News12NJ on Smith's, other Reps' plans to hold congressional hearing'Another dead dolphin washes up ashore in Monmouth County, seventh in NJ since February'Another dead dolphin washed up on a beach in Monmouth County. This is now the sixth dolphin to end up dead in the Leonardo State Marina section of Monmouth County since February. Three died at Sandy Hook and another had to be put down in Atlantic Highlands.
Fingers are pointed to offshore wind research as the cause of these unprecedented marine mammal deaths while scientists say there's no connection there.
MORE: Dead dolphin washes up on Avalon beach; 4th this month in New JerseyA video sent to News 12 by Middletown Mayor Tony Perry showed the dead mammal on the beach of the state-owned Leonardo Marina. The town has notified the state about the latest death. Since December, there have been a dozen or so whales washing up on New York and New Jersey beaches. This is now the seventh dolphin to wind up dead in New Jersey since February. "All offshore wind survey activities have been permitted by NOAA Fisheries and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and deemed safe for marine mammals, i.e., no injurious activities have been permitted for offshore wind developers,” the DEP said in a statement. Congressional hearings are set to take place Thursday afternoon in Wildwood. One of the speakers will be Congressman Chris Smith along with many others who have called for a pause of offshore wind research activity. "The people of New Jersey deserve better than to have local rule and input categorically dissed as we have already seen in Cape May and Ocean City and Sea Girt in my district will likely be next,” Smith said. “Our well-founded concerns... including 30 shore mayors who signed a letter admonishing a pause—should not be trivialized, mocked or dismissed."
News 12 will have complete coverage of the hearings later today. This article was published and related segment aired on March 16, 2023 and can be found at: https://newjersey.news12.com/dead-dolphin-washes-up-ashore-monmouth-county-nj Another dead dolphin washes up ashore in Monmouth County, seventh in NJ since February (news12.com) |