lol thats what took me so long, but it kept coming back up, being an engineer im naturally terrible with spelling and grammar, so when something bothers me ya know . . . .
Is anyone else tracking the whale situation in NJ?
- Thread starter Chris(NJ)
- Start date
lol thats what took me so long, but it kept coming back up, being an engineer im naturally terrible with spelling and grammar, so when something bothers me ya know . . . .
should i have quietly corrected it?
Now it feels like an atlantic city thing on the other side of the boardwalk.
This has been a thing for quite a while. I've spent considerable time operating on Stellwagon Bank and other areas of high whale activity, and the speed restrictions there are nothing new. More recently NOAA is also publishing speed restrictions based on sightings.
The CG has been sued for strikes, first in the early 90's if memory serves. Commercial fisheries have had regs modified to protect from entanglements, etc. The Northern Right Whale population numbers around 400, with individuals identified by callosities on their head, and people get really pissed when one is killed by a ship, regardless of the ship's mission. Having had very close encounters with them but never made contact, I can say that the speed restrictions were beneficial (to the whale). Convenient or realistic? Not always. It definitely added to my stress level when navigating through a crowded fleet of scallopers in pea soup fog, that's for sure.
Here is a photo I took back in the summer of '07 off the coast of SC. No zoom/telephoto. They were named "Right Whale" because they were the right whale to hunt when the whaling industry sustained coastal communities; they lumber along without much care in the world, often close to shore, and float when they die.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Is that the nose?
Top of the head, yes
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MMuller
Well-Known Member
Not sure why people are rushing to judgement blaming wind farms. Almost seems like a partisan issue for some reason I don't understand. Same people were chanting "Drill baby drill" when gas spiked. Just posted by marine mammal stranding center:
Update on the deceased humpback whale that washed ashore at Manasquan Beach on February 13th-
Yesterday on February 14th, necropsy teams from Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) conducted an initial exam on the beach, then the whale was moved to a Monmouth County facility where a necropsy was conducted. The remains were disposed of in the County landfill. The whale was an approximately 35-foot female. The whale was identified by Gotham Whale as NYC 0298 and was first seen feeding in the area on January 7, 2023. This was the first and only time this whale was documented.
The animal was in a state of advanced decomposition, which limited the necropsy. However, tissue samples were taken and will be sent out for analysis. The whale was in good body condition and there were no obvious signs of external trauma. However, the internal examination showed evidence of vessel strike. There is not always obvious external evidence of vessel strikes, which is why internal exams are important. The results of the tissue analysis will help us determine if the vessel strike occurred before or after death.
Humpback whales are frequent visitors to New Jersey waters, where schools of small bait fish are a good food source. Since December 1, six humpback whales have stranded in New Jersey, and have been examined by stranding teams to help determine cause of death. One additional dead humpback whale was reported floating off NJ in January, but was never seen again. NOAA Fisheries stranding network partners are actively investigating these strandings as part of the humpback whale Unusual Mortality Event that was declared in 2016. That investigation is ongoing, and data from this whale will contribute to understanding of the causes of the UME.
We thank the MMSC and AMSEAS stranding response teams for their rapid response, professionalism, and adaptability as changing circumstances unfolded. We would also like to thank the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Wall Township, and the Borough of Manasquan for their assistance with moving the whale to the County facility. We also greatly appreciate NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and NJ DEP for their on the ground support for this stranding event.
There are currently active Seasonal Management Areas off all major ports in the mid-Atlantic region, including the ports of New York/New Jersey, which are in effect through April 30, 2023. All vessels 65 feet or longer must travel at 10 knots or less in these areas. Additionally, there are currently three active voluntary SLOW Zones in effect from Nantucket to Chesapeake Bay. Maintaining speeds of 10 knots or less can help protect all large whales from vessel collisions.
Update on the deceased humpback whale that washed ashore at Manasquan Beach on February 13th-
Yesterday on February 14th, necropsy teams from Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) conducted an initial exam on the beach, then the whale was moved to a Monmouth County facility where a necropsy was conducted. The remains were disposed of in the County landfill. The whale was an approximately 35-foot female. The whale was identified by Gotham Whale as NYC 0298 and was first seen feeding in the area on January 7, 2023. This was the first and only time this whale was documented.
The animal was in a state of advanced decomposition, which limited the necropsy. However, tissue samples were taken and will be sent out for analysis. The whale was in good body condition and there were no obvious signs of external trauma. However, the internal examination showed evidence of vessel strike. There is not always obvious external evidence of vessel strikes, which is why internal exams are important. The results of the tissue analysis will help us determine if the vessel strike occurred before or after death.
Humpback whales are frequent visitors to New Jersey waters, where schools of small bait fish are a good food source. Since December 1, six humpback whales have stranded in New Jersey, and have been examined by stranding teams to help determine cause of death. One additional dead humpback whale was reported floating off NJ in January, but was never seen again. NOAA Fisheries stranding network partners are actively investigating these strandings as part of the humpback whale Unusual Mortality Event that was declared in 2016. That investigation is ongoing, and data from this whale will contribute to understanding of the causes of the UME.
We thank the MMSC and AMSEAS stranding response teams for their rapid response, professionalism, and adaptability as changing circumstances unfolded. We would also like to thank the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Wall Township, and the Borough of Manasquan for their assistance with moving the whale to the County facility. We also greatly appreciate NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and NJ DEP for their on the ground support for this stranding event.
There are currently active Seasonal Management Areas off all major ports in the mid-Atlantic region, including the ports of New York/New Jersey, which are in effect through April 30, 2023. All vessels 65 feet or longer must travel at 10 knots or less in these areas. Additionally, there are currently three active voluntary SLOW Zones in effect from Nantucket to Chesapeake Bay. Maintaining speeds of 10 knots or less can help protect all large whales from vessel collisions.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
I believe the point being made is that these number of stranded whales were not seen until the survey started. I don't know if this is true or not, or if the same time frame has seen an increase in vessel traffic in the same area that may be the reason for this instead. The report you mentioned seems to show the necropsy result for one the beached whales (I may have misunderstood), the jury seems to be still out on the other ones?
Everything gets elevated by one side and vilified by the other once it becomes a partisan issue, which obviously doesn't help if there's an actual issue.
That is why before proceeding with this survey, if not completed yet, it should be assessed if there's any merit to the idea it may have caused this problem. Shouldn't be a political issue. But these are times we live in.
The issue is that the survey isn’t the only thing that coincides with the whale deaths.
Another issue is that the bait fish (food) are running very close to shoreline this year, bringing whales in. They are running differently due to a variety of factors, one being water temps.
It’s a hyper-focus on one thing versus all the other factors that are different this season that are there too.
MMuller
Well-Known Member
As a 30+ year round surfer, remembering a few times when the water temp was sub freezing and almost slushy, I've been blown away by the ocean temp the past several years. I don't remember it even getting below 40 the past 3 winters. Not a fan of dying whales whatsoever but I think there are larger issues at play here.
And, even being the whale hugger I am, if the process of installing wind farms takes out a few in a short term of construction, it might be a case of acceptable casualties in a greater war. Once a wind farm is up and running, there's little chance of a catastrophic event as with oil rigs, land or sea.
And, even being the whale hugger I am, if the process of installing wind farms takes out a few in a short term of construction, it might be a case of acceptable casualties in a greater war. Once a wind farm is up and running, there's little chance of a catastrophic event as with oil rigs, land or sea.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, I’m not sure wind farms will be sufficient to replace fossil fuel in our lifetime while preserving our lifestyle, and I would be really happy to be proven wrong. Wind farms were the big thing going in Europe back in the ‘90s, more specifically in Germany, did not turn out to match the expectations. Southern Italy was filled with wind farms, strangely opposed mostly by environmentalists because the impact on landscape, fauna etc. (which I guess would not be as relevant if installed out in the ocean, if you’re not a whale that is), I’ve only seen a couple ever spinning when visiting, I guess the hilly terrain not being ideal. I just wish there wasn’t so much controversy behind everything and that news were reported universally as actual information and not just a political opportunity, or even having to guess if they were.
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
MMuller
Well-Known Member
Any little bit to safely get fossil fuel free is a step in the right direction. Lovely day trip out to New Hope with temp 71, 30 degrees above average. Along the way saw large tracts of land cleared of all trees (water, air and soil management) with huge developments being built. Not one had solar. SHOULD BE MANDATORY IN 2023, any 100% clearing of trees MUST utilize some percentage of solar for new construction. Why not? They have to build large drainage systems and retaining ponds around all of these to make up for the loss of water managing trees.
Sorry, off topic from whales but certainly all under the same climate change umbrella and moving forward. Enjoy the day, once again in the mid 60s.
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Chris(NJ)
Well-Known Member
Same, I've been surfing since I was 13 and almost always at Inlet. Even when we dipped in the 30s, it wasnt that far in to it from what I remember.
So are you hypothesizing whales do or do not prefer the (potentially) warmer water?
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Chris(NJ)
Well-Known Member
rick81721
Lothar
Yep that was a huge mistake to bail on nuclear.
MMuller
Well-Known Member
One word. Fukushima. If you're supporting something so incredibly potentially disastrous, why wouldn't you or anybody be jumping up and down in support of solar, hydro and wind?
Whales and ocean temps, I dunno. I'll leave that to more qualified, like politicians with agendas.
I will say everything is related to everything, be it temps, winds, currents, etc.
Also will say, as I check squan surfcam and decide whether to do a ride or wax the board, I can't remember a "winter" where there was consistently really great, if not epic surf conditions. The constant roiling of the ocean has to, I would think, contribute to marine life feeding and migration patterns. Again, I dunno.
Mahnken
Well-Known Member
We looked into building a house in one of those developments that bought out farm land. Asked about options for solar and they were like, "Absolutely not, that's something you'll have to do on your own after closing." I was floored. Really should be mandatory, but to not even have it as an option on new construction? Ridiculous. One of the many reasons we bailed on that idea.
rick81721
Lothar
This is the kind of silly scare rhetoric that got us in this mess in the first place. FYI the US military (and other countries) have been running perfectly safe, small nuclear reactors for 60+ years. The technology is mature. They should have built many small reactors decades ago - France gets 70% of it's electricity from nuclear, we only get 20%. It should be an "all of the above strategy" - nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, etc.