MONMOUTH BEACH, NJ – New Jersey Democrat Senator Vin Gopal, a key ally in New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s mission to build wind turbines from Cape May to Sandy Hook said conspiracy theorists are linking a massive increase in whale deaths to offshore wind energy.

When asked during a news 12 interview, Gopal, who is also very active politically in Ocean County too, rejected the idea that sonar mapping could be linked to a massive kill-off of whales and dolphins at the Jersey Shore in 2023.

When asked if the offshore sonar mapping is responsible for the die off, Gopal was firm.

“No, it is not,” he said.

“We get a lot of misinformation that it’s killing dolphins and whales,” Gopal said shortly after a dead whale washed up on the beach in his hometown recently. “That’s not true, but you have conspiracy theorists saying it’s killing whales and dolphins without any evidence.”

Gopal’s Republican opponent this year, Steve Dnistrian is calling for a temporary halt to offshore wind farm construction and mapping. He says he wants to wait to see what the federal government comes up with after conducting a study on the matter.

Earlier this month, the federal government announced a research grant to dive into the topic of the whale deaths along the east coast this year.

Gopal insists the offshore wind turbine farm project must go on. The offshore wind farms are vital to the success of the 2035 Democrat ban on gas powered cars and push to force New Jerseyans to use electric stoves and electric home heating systems, policies supported by Governor Phil Murphy and Gopal.

“A dead whale washes up in Long Branch, home of Vin Gopal, and yet he still dismisses ANY POSSIBLE tie between sonar mapping + dead mammals,” Dnistrian said. “Here, he calls advocates and others “conspiracy theorists.” Non-expert, self-righteousness won’t help.”

Residents criticized Gopal’s conspiracy theory assertion.

“The Senator appears to be employing the Alinsky Rules for Radicals tactic of creating a distraction,” one Twitter user responded.

“He needs to prove the survey mapping is NOT the cause. Otherwise, step aside and shut up,” said Lisa Millar.

“If they would prove the “conspiracy theorists” wrong with actual proof other than their opinion, that would be a great start. They won’t even consider pausing this to study why the sea life is dying,” another responded.