TRENTON, NJ – Lawmakers in Trenton are pushing for a moratorium on wind turbine sonar sea floor mapping until they get scientific evidence that the activity is not related to the increase in whale and dolphin deaths at the Jersey Shore this winter.
Republican Senators Declan O’Scanlon and Ed Durr have introduced a resolution calling for an immediate halt to all sonar testing and wind turbine mapping in New Jersey, following a surge of unexplained marine wildlife deaths along the state’s coast.
The resolution urges the state and federal governments to suspend offshore wind projects until scientific studies can be conducted to determine their impact on marine wildlife.
“After months of whales and dolphins washing up on our beaches, enough is enough,” said Senator O’Scanlon. Since December 2022, nearly 40 whales, dolphins, and porpoises have died along the New Jersey coast, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
Republicans had previously attempted to place a moratorium on offshore wind projects, but these efforts were blocked by Senate Democrats.
The mapping bill is also expected to be rejected by Democrats who hold the majority. Even if they do vote in favor of the bill, Phil Murphy has made it clear that he intends to push the wind farm project forward even if more whales and dolphins wash up at the Jersey Shore.