Ocean Blasting Updates

Seismic Update

On June 5^th, the Christie Administration filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court with the intent to stop the NSF-funded Rutgers seismic survey off of the New Jersey coast. The complaint cited concerns over the potential adverse impacts of the study on both commercial and recreational fisheries as well as its potential harm to marine mammals. NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin said that “It is extremely disappointing that the federal government is moving ahead with this misguided project despite widespread objection from all quarters and without regard to the negative impacts on New Jersey."

In addition to the state’s complaint, the Recreational Fisherman’s Alliance and a number of commercial fishing groups have filed suit against the National Science Foundation in an effort to obtain injunctive relief and halt the project. These groups are largely concerned with the effects that the study will have on their fishing efforts. Some commercial groups have already seen declines in their catch rates since the project began in early June. 

Concerns over Marine Life Following Seismic Start

In the weeks since the Rutgers seismic blasting began, there have been reports of two—possibly three—dead whales in the New York/New Jersey bight. The first whale, a minke, washed up on the shore of Coney Island on June 8^th. Its cause of death was determined to be a boat strike, but due to time restrictions and the length of time that the whale had been dead, scientists were unable to extract its ears to check for potential damage from anthropogenic sound. On June 10^th, a pair of fisherman spotted a 40 foot whale floating approximately 10 miles off of Manasquan inlet. The whale was later identified as a fin, which is an endangered species. This whale’s cause of death was undetermined, and since that report, there has been one additional report of a dead whale off of the New Jersey coast. Details of this whale are still outstanding.

In addition to whale deaths, there have been a number of infant dolphin deaths—however, this isn’t necessarily unusual at this time of year. With bottlenose dolphin stocks in steep decline following the vast spread of Morbillivirus in the past few years, declines in dolphin populations are of particular concern. The marine mammal stranding center has been and continues to track dolphin deaths and strandings closely, and Clean Ocean Action has been following these stranding events as well. If you see any unusual behavior or activity related to marine mammals, please be sure to report it to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center at (609) 266-0538.

Sturgeon Information 

During the permitting process for this seismic survey, the National Science Foundation (NSF) initiated consultation with NMFS due to the presence of several Endangered Species Act-listed species in the survey area, including 5 species of sea turtles, 6 species of whale, and 2 species of fish. At the end of this process, a scientific document was produced which was required to contemplate the potential impacts of the survey on all the endangered species in the area. Unfortunately, the document did not live up to what was required of it. The Atlantic Sturgeon was mentioned, and then quickly dismissed, as NMFS “believed” that it would not occur in the survey area. This is erroneous. On June 1, 2015, Clean Ocean Action sent a letter to the Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), alerting her to the fact that the Atlantic Sturgeon was wrongly omitted from the full impact evaluation process, citing studies that provided ample evidence that there are likely to be sturgeon present in the proposed testing area. Having never received a response regarding this letter, Clean Ocean Action wrote once more to Division Chief Peterson of NOAA with the same concerns. Clean Ocean Action continues to wait for a response regarding these concerns. 

Infographic Blurb

Haley Jordan, a Clean Ocean Action volunteer, has worked tirelessly over the past few months to assist us in designing a seismic surveying infographic, which has been released on our website and social media outlets. Haley has extensive graphic design skills and helped COA create a visual of the seismic surveying process and its potential effects on the marine ecosystem. If you’d like permission to use the infographic, please contact us at (732) 872-0111. Waves of thanks to Haley!

LAMONT-DOHERTY: A HISTORY OF HARASSMENT

In response to recent criticism about their Summer 2015 Rutgers Seismic Study, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO) has often said that their past studies have not led to marine mammal strandings. Clean Ocean Action expressed concerns during the project’s comment period this Spring regarding the project and the potential for marine mammal beachings. In response, L-DEO stated in its study’s 2015 Issued Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) “that Lamont-Doherty has not ever experienced a stranding event associated with their activities during the past 10 years that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued Authorizations to them. In the past decade of seismic surveys conducted carried out by the Langseth, protected species observers and other crew members have neither observed nor reported any seismic-related marine mammal injuries or mortalities.”

This statement fails to consider the repercussions of different studies conducted by the Observatory’s other boats over a lengthier period of time. In 2002 (13 years ago), L-DEO was taken to a U.S. District Court by the Center for Biological Diversity regarding the strandings of a pair of Cuvier beaked whales in the Gulf of California. These whales, which are widely known as the deepest diving marine mammals, often frequent depths of over 3,300 ft and typically avoid ships. However, their lengthy deep dives and ship avoidance were not enough to protect them from the impacts of seismic airgun blasting in the area. The off-duty NMFS scientists that found the beached whales found no physical indication of harm, but rather reddening of the cheeks, a symptom of physiological distress, hinting that the whales likely died due to burst blood vessels in their heads. As a result, a U.S. Magistrate Judge issued a temporary restraining order against the project, and all machinery was shut off immediately.

In this particular case, Lamont-Doherty was not using the Langseth, but rather the Maurice Ewing. However, despite the name difference, the project’s purpose closely resembles their proposed study off of the Atlantic coast. Beginning September 18, 2002, the research vessel started conducting seismic testing by traveling in a zigzag pattern off the shore of the Baja peninsula in an effort to map a rift that had been caused by continental plate shifts. Similar to the conducted 2014 study and the proposed 2015 study off of the coast of New Jersey, the National Science Foundation (NSF) was a sponsor to the 2002 Pacific Ocean study.

In the 2002 case, the Center for Biological Diversity claimed that the NSF’s seismic study violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as well as the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which require the government to analyze the ecological impacts of studies as well as minimize the potential disruption of marine mammals. The NSF argued that due to the study’s location in Mexican waters, the NEPA and MMPA would not apply. However, it became clear quickly that the effects of the study would have implications for marine life far beyond international borders.

In 2005, the Maurice Ewing was used in a seismic study off of the Yucatan Peninsula for a project under the NSF, Lamont-Doherty and the University of Texas. Concerned scientists and environmentalists pointed to the 2002 California whale beachings as a cause for concern regarding the project in the Gulf. In addition, Rosario Sosa, former president of the Association for the Rights of Animals and their Habitat, said that activists had come across dead dolphins and turtles in Campeche, where seismic pulses were used to explore for oil.

L-DEO’s response to Clean Ocean Action’s concern fails to consider a wealth of information that can drastically affect how the project is perceived by the public. By only analyzing data within the last decade, they fail to include the previous strandings that were on record. In addition, they fail to consider harm done by other NSF vessels, and mention only the Langseth. While at the surface, these might appear to be minor oversights, the lack of consideration and analysis pose a significant threat to marine mammal, turtle and fish stocks off of the coast of New Jersey.

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!

Rutgers Study Set to Blast 26 Times More Marine Mammals

The newly issued Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) for the Rutgers seismic study is now 26 times worse than originally proposed! The Rutgers University study is allowed any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance to 18,457 marine mammals including 18,321 dolphins and their infant calves. While the original numbers proposed in 2014 was 694! New Jersey elected officials are taking action to defend our ocean and marine life:

•    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 IHA 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.
• ·         NJ Senate President Sweeney and US Representative Pallone, authored a letter directed to Rutgers University President Barchi, urging him cancel the study or, at minimum, schedule it for outside the peak summer months and revise the plans to be less harmful to marine life.
• ·         COA has written a letter to Rutgers University Board of Governor’s urging them to cancel the Rutgers seismic study, or alternatively conduct the study in the winter months when less life and livelihoods would be affected. We have also sent a letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service to requesting them to reopen the notice and comment period for the issued IHA.

The relentless seismic blasts from air-gun arrays at 246 decibels every 5-6 seconds, 24 hours a day for 30 days can cause serious harm to marine life.

• ·         Harassment of over 32 species, mostly bottlenose dolphins, 12,531,—including newborn calves.
• ·         6 endangered species such as the northern right whale, humpback, sei, fin, blue and sperm whales. 
• ·         5 species of endangered sea turtles including the Kemps Ridley—the most endangered sea turtle on the planet!
• ·         Studies show that fish can also be injured or scared off by seismic blasts.
• ·         Over 230 square miles of ocean will be impacted including prime fishing locations such as, The Fingers, Barnegat Ridge, The Lillian Wreck, and 28 Mile Wreck could be impacted. 

Action Alert: Stop Seismic Testing Off New Jersey!

Despite the efforts of New Jersey elected officials, concerned citizens, and organizations like yours to close the door on seismic testing off our shores, we are now facing yet another seismic threat – this time right at our doorstep and happening already this summer.

Researchers at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO), in collaboration with the National Science Foundation (NSF), have proposed a study of seafloor sediments 15 miles off the Barnegat Bay to better understand historical changes in sea level from 60 million years ago through the present.  The researchers propose to use powerful seismic airgun arrays to shoot blasts of compressed air deep into the seabed, similar to the process used to locate buried oil and gas deposits.  Furthermore, the airgun blasting would endure for 720 hours over a 30-day period.  The L-DEO researchers have requested authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to “take” (i.e., harass) individuals from 26 marine mammal species during its study, which was conditionally granted on Monday, March 17 in a federal register notice of the proposed incidental harassment authorization.  The proposed authorization is an evaluation of information provided by L-DEO regarding its potential impacts on marine mammals and NMFS’s ultimate approval, despite evidence linking seismic activities to harm.

Proposed location off Barnegat Bay

The proposed authorization acknowledges the scarcity of data at several points throughout its discussion of potential impacts of seismic activity on marine mammals and other animals, yet it consistently writes off the impacts as negligible.  For example, the proposal states: “The sound criteria used to estimate how many marine mammals might be disturbed to some biologically-important degree by a seismic program are based primarily on behavioral observations of a few species…for many species there are no data on responses to marine seismic surveys.”  Given that 26 marine mammal species could potentially be impacted by this survey, 6 of which are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, it is concerning to see NMFS gloss over impacts in the absence of hard data instead of taking a more precautionary approach.

Furthermore, the proposed authorization references information that is irrelevant or even incorrect, and several instances of “cut and paste” from previously issued authorizations are evident.  For example, at one point, the notice states, “Additionally, no beaked whale species occur in the proposed seismic survey area,” even though earlier in the notice, six species of beaked whale are listed as potentially occurring in the proposed study area.  How can we rely on NMFS’s evaluation of impacts to marine mammals from this proposed seismic survey, when entire groups of marine mammals are erroneously omitted from their analysis?

Clean Ocean Action has already begun to develop its response to this proposal to blast the ocean with seismic airguns in the name of scientific research.  We first sent a letter to NMFS with over 30 signatories to request a 60-day extension to the 30-day comment period and a public hearing.  NMFS responded to COA on April 9th with the news that the comment period has been extended by 30 days, with a new deadline of May 16th; however, COA is still pushing for the full 60-day extension and a public hearing.  We are currently drafting detailed comments on the proposed authorization for submission to NMFS.

Seismic airguns, whatever the reason for their use, can have devastating impacts to cherished marine mammal species and vital coastal industries, including commercial and recreational fisheries and tourism.  Join Clean Ocean Action in defending our precious coastal resources from the far-reaching impacts of seismic testing.

Call on your local elected officials to pass a resolution opposing seismic testing – no matter the location or objective.

Click here for our fact sheet on this issue.

Please call Clean Ocean Action at 732.872.0111 or email Cassandra Ornell at science@cleanoceanaction.org with questions.  To get involved, email Lauren Townsend at ltownsend4@gmail.com. The clock is ticking…

ACTION ALERT: 100,000 VOICES NEEDED TO SAVE THE WHALES

Sign the Petition telling the White House to reject seismic airgun

surveys for oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean! 

http://goo.gl/8yvqa 

  

Photo Credit: NOAA

Friends of Marine Life: Immediate Action is needed to keep the ocean wild and industry free! The federal government is considering allowing "seismic surveys" in the Atlantic Ocean - airgun blasts designed to pinpoint offshore oil and gas deposits deep in the seafloor.  From death to deafness, these shockwaves threaten fish and fisheries, whales and dolphins, and the entire marine ecosystem.

  

Ted Danson, ocean advocate and actor, recently said it best in a blog post calling for a nation-wide voice in opposition to this proposal:

"In the ocean you find a symphony of sound, from the clicking of snapping shrimp to the long mournful wails of whales, and zips of dolphins. Now imagine this oceanic soundscape shattered by dynamite-like blasts, every 10 seconds for days and even weeks on end. Blasts so loud they can literally deafen marine mammals that need to listen to live, possibly injuring or killing these animals by the tens of thousands. This grisly scenario may soon become a reality in an area of the Atlantic Ocean twice the size of California, where the Department of the Interior is currently reviewing a proposal to test the seafloor with seismic airguns, all in the speculative pursuit of more offshore oil and gas."

Recently, a cohort of Congressmen and Senators urged President Obama to reject these surveys and protect the Atlantic Ocean from oil and gas activities. Read more here.

Please Act Now Take These Two Steps: 

Step One: Sound the alarm! Share this with your family, neighbors, and communities; every voice counts.  Ramp up the volume for the ocean! See how many signatures you can get. Send to 10, 20, 30, or more of your friends.  

Step Two: Join One Hundred Thousand of your fellow ocean heroes by signing this petition, urging the President to protect the mammals, fish, ecologies, and economies of the Atlantic Ocean:  http://goo.gl/8yvqa