Join us in Belmar urging Governor Christie to keep fighting for the Ocean & stop ocean blasting!

Despite calls, emails, and letters, Rutgers University is still moving forward with blasting our ocean and could begin their seismic study this Monday June 1st! Tomorrow we need all hands on deck! Governor Christie will be in Belmar at 2:30 PM at Ocean Avenue and North Blvd. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Governor Christie for fighting ocean blasting and urge him to keep on fighting. The NJDEP has used its power under federal law to reject the study due to the negative impact on fisheries as well as marine mammals. Rutgers University has become deaf to these issues NJDEP, elected officials, and the public our raising regarding harm to marine life. 

We need Governor Christie to continue to stand strong and stop this seismic study! Will you join us? We need as many people in Belmar as possible. Rutgers could begin blasting our ocean as soon as June 1st and if allowed they can cause "any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance" to 18,547 marine mammals!

When: Friday May 29th at 2 PM

Where: Ocean Avenue & North Blvd, Belmar, NJ 

Thank you and please spread the word!

Senator Booker Urges NOAA Administrator to Withdraw Seismic IHA

US Senator Booker wrote to Dr. Sullivan, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, formally requesting that the National Marine Fisheries Service withdraw the Incidental Harassment Authorization needed for the Rutgers seismic study to legally harass marine mammals and reopen the comment period so that concerned organizations and the public are given a meaningful opportunity to review this survey. Senator Booker cited the exponential increase in the number of marine mammals estimated to be harassed and the methodology used to calculate the new numbers as justification for withdrawal of the authorization and a reopening of the comment period. In addition, Senator Booker reiterated his support for the NJDEP’s concerns with the proposed project’s impact on New Jersey’s coastal resources and desire for the ongoing mediation process between the NJDEP and the National Science Foundation (as lead agency for this survey) to conclude before any permits are issued by NOAA.

Clean Ocean Action applauds Senator Booker’s close analysis of the proposed project and its impact on New Jersey’s marine life and economy and is looking forward to Dr. Sullivan’s response.  

State Senate President Sweeney & Congressman Pallone Urge President Barchi to Cancel Seismic Study

On May 22, 2015, NJ Senate President Sweeney, in conjunction with US Congressman Pallone, authored a letter directed to Rutgers University President Barchi, urging him, as President of the University leading the seismic survey, to halt the proposed actions immediately. Citing the disruptive impact and damaging effects of seismic testing on the marine environment, especially the impact to the recreational and commercial fishing industries which operate at peak capacity during the summer months, Congressman Pallone and Senator Sweeney, emphasized that Rutgers University should “aspire to be a good state citizen by minimizing negative impacts to our residents, businesses, and the environment.” The letter stressed how critical a healthy ocean ecosystem is to the economy of NJ, as almost 10,000 jobs are produced from the recreational and commercial fishing industries alone, not including the ancillary jobs necessary to support vibrant summer tourism based economy for many communities.

Clean Ocean Action thanks Senate President Sweeney and Congressman Pallone for their effective advocacy in support of a productive and intact marine environment.

Find a copy of the letter here.

Help Save Dolphins Off the Jersey Shore - Call & Email Rutgers President Barchi Today!

Rutgers Ocean blasting study is back with vengeance, 26 times worse than originally proposed! If permitted, the Rutgers study can cause any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance to 18,457 marine mammals, including over 12,500 bottlenose dolphins and their infant calves. This exponential increase should be shocking to Rutgers University, especially its researchers, faculty, President and Board of Trustees.  Rutgers should stop this study, now! Email Rutgers University President Barachi urging him to protect marine mammals, fisheries, and our coast by canceling the Rutgers seismic study! The relentless seismic blasts from the air-gun array at 246 decibels every 5-6 seconds, 24 hours a day for 30 days can cause serious harm. The newly issued Incidental Harassment Authorization by federal officials would allow the harassment of over 32 species, mostly bottlenose dolphins-including newborn calves, as well as endangered species  such as the northern right whale, humpback, sei, fin, blue and sperm whales. In addition, five species of endangered sea turtles will also be harmed including the Kemps Ridley-the rarest and most critically endangered!  For more detailed information on Level B Harassment and mammal takings please visit our Blog. Please help to save New Jersey marine life by calling and emailing Rutgers University President Barchi urging him to cancel the seismic study to avoid harm to marine mammals during peak summer months for migration and breeding! The 60 million year old rocks they are studying would still be there in January, when less marine life will be in the area.

Call and email Rutgers University President Barchi today! Call: 848-932-7454 Email: http://president.rutgers.edu/contact/send-message-president-barchi Sample Message for email: Dear President Barchi, I care about the ocean and marine life because ________________________________________ Please cancel the Rutgers University seismic study off the coast of Barnegat Inlet. The study would allow "any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance" of 18,457 marine mammals, 26 times the amount proposed last year. This includes over 12,000 bottle nosed dolphin and their infant calves.   Rutgers must also be shocked at the level of harm; it is unconscionable and cannot be allowed.  The ocean blasting will also harm fishing, diving, and tourism activities, especially during the summer when marine life is at the peak of breeding and migrating.  Though there is no good time to conduct this study, during the winter less marine life would be threatened. I believe you should stop this study because ___________________________________________ Stop the study, now!  Thank you!

Sample Tweets: @RutgersU seismic study will harm of 18,457 marine mammals #RUserious urge RU to cancel the study #RUflippincrazy #saveNJMarineLife @RutgersU will blast the ocean at 246 decibels every 5-6 seconds, 24 hours a day for 30 days this summer #RUflippincrazy #SaveNJMarineLife 18,131 dolphins could be harmed during the @RutgersU seismic study. #RU flipping serious?! #RUflippincrazy #SaveNJMarineLife Call @RutgersU President Barchi urging him to cancel the seismic study #RUlflippincrazy #saveNJMarinelife  Help spread awareness by sharing and regraming our posts on social media!

Seismic Triple Threat to Atlantic Ocean

Amid great public outcry about the Rutgers ocean blasting study off Barnegat Light, NJ, two larger-scale seismic projects have recently been announced that together span the entire Eastern Seaboard.  This triple-threat of ocean blasting includes a United States Geological Survey (USGS) seismic study of the continental shelf for sovereignty and tsunami hazard investigations and the Obama Administration’s approval of seismic testing in the mid- and south-Atlantic for the purposes of locating potential oil and gas deposits.

Photo by Ryan Morrill

Although Rutgers University was given the final approval on July 2 to conduct their 30-day seismic survey, it is unclear if the researchers have been able to conduct any ocean blasting since that time.  First, the State of New Jersey went to the District Court and then to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to request a temporary halt to the study, which they were ultimately denied.  Also, the ship to be used in the testing has twice experienced equipment failures and returned to port; the vessel was still moored in Brooklyn as of July 29.  Rutgers’ time with the ship is running out, as their federal approvals expire on August 17 and the USGS has reserved the same vessel from mid-August to mid-September for the first leg of their two-part seismic survey of the Atlantic continental shelf.  The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued conditional approval for the USGS to harass 19,497 marine mammals with their study.  COA submitted extensive comments to NMFS, which urged further environmental review of the project’s impacts to marine life and greater consideration of alternatives and stronger mitigation measures.  On July 18, the Obama Administration issued its final authorization for seismic surveys in the mid- and south-Atlantic Ocean associated with oil and gas exploration.  The Atlantic coast has been under a drilling moratorium for decades, and this decision brings oil and gas companies one step closer to offshore drilling by allowing them to start looking for fossil fuels off our shores.

Visit StopRutgersOceanBlasting.org to sign the petition against ocean blasting approved to take place now off Barnegat Light.