Rutgers Blasting off of Long Beach Island

[njdiver]

Originally Posted by Joey Dah Fish

Sounds like you are very informed. I would like to ask a question. Does sound travel further in water? Does water magnify sound waves?

I merely did the research on the effects on sport divers underwater. You’ll have to google the answer yourself, I’m a bit busy disseminating the information I found to sport divers.

[njdiver]

Originally Posted by Bob T.

Will this have any impact on people swimming (especially underwater) on the beaches?

At its closest approach it will not have any harmful effects on swimmers from shore.

[Blackfish Doug]

On another note where's PEW on this issue? They want to blame the fisherman for hurting the fishes & the whales but no not science. Why are they not trying to stop this with their wealth? It goes to show you how much BS that group is. It only proves one thing they are all on board about offshore drilling & Its more money in their pockets.

[RBC67]

Originally Posted by Blackfish Doug

On another note where's PEW on this issue? They want to blame the fisherman for hurting the fishes & the whales but no not science. Why are they not trying to stop this with their wealth? It goes to show you how much BS that group is. It only proves one thing they are all on board about offshore drilling & Its more money in their pockets.

Because they support Obama and offshore drilling election year is nearing

[Joey Dah Fish]

Originally Posted by RBC67

Because they support Obama and offshore drilling election year is nearing

Obama does not support drilling anywhere. But dems looking for money out of oil business to run Hillary. Tree huggers unless the money is good.

[bunker dunker]

they blinded us with science!!!!!!!

[njdiver]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2015

Contact: Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795

Bob Considine (609) 292-2994

Caryn Shinske (609) 984-1795


CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION SEEKS FEDERAL COURT RULING TO STOP SEISMIC RESEARCH PROJECT

STATE ARGUES PROJECT WILL HARM FISH AND MARINE MAMMAL POPULATIONS IN STUDY AREA OFF LONG BEACH ISLAND

(15/P54) TRENTON - The Christie Administration today filed a complaint in U.S. District Court arguing that a federally funded research project using strong seismic blasts to map ocean sediment deposits should be stopped because it will adversely impact economically vital commercial and recreational fisheries and harm marine mammals.

The complaint filed by the Attorney General's Office this morning in U.S. District Court in Trenton argues the project violates federal laws protecting marine animals and requests the National Science Foundation (NSF) to perform an area-specific environmental impact study before proceeding any further.

Rutgers University, the NSF's contractor, launched the project this week, despite objections from Governor Christie, state and federal lawmakers, and advocacy groups.

"We are not going to give up this fight," Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin said. "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.

"Starting the project now, with the summer tourism and fishing seasons shifting into full gear, is simply wrong," Commissioner Martin added. "We must take no chances when it comes to protecting our ocean resources, our commercial and recreational fishing industries, and our state's $42 billion tourism economy, which depends heavily on the shore."

The State's action today follows a letter Commissioner Martin sent this week to NSF Director Dr. France A. Córdova "strongly condemning" the project and asserting that the "timing of the study callously disregards the welfare of our coastal resources and all of the people whose jobs depend on the health of those resources."

Commercial and recreational fishing support about $1 billion in revenues in New Jersey. The testing is being done in federal waters in a 230-square-mile area southeast of Long Beach Island, an area well-established for fishing. Among the many species of fish that are available off the Jersey coast in the summer are bluefish, black sea bass, summer flounder, black drum, herring and mackerel.

Those who have publicly expressed strong opposition to the project include U.S. Senator Cory Booker, U.S., Representative Frank Pallone, State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, Clean Ocean Action, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, the Recreational Fishing Alliance, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

"Clean Ocean Action is shocked and disappointed at the lack of concern the geological community has shown toward the living marine resources," said Cindy Zipf, the environmental group's Executive Director. "At the same time, it is inspiring to see the incredible outpouring of support including federal, state, and local elected officials, the fishing community, and all citizens in defense of the ocean's marine life. This indeed is a powerful statement about the importance of the ocean to New Jersey."

"The testing could not come at a worse time of year for recreational fishermen, commercial fishermen and bait and tackle shops that depend on the summer fishing season for their livelihood," said Paul Turi, corresponding secretary for the Jersey Coast Anglers Association. "The JCAA and its member clubs see no justifiable value for this study. We believe the potential negative effects far outweigh any potential positive effects."

Bob Schoelkopf, Executive Director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, said the testing could result in deaths of dolphins and whales by disrupting feeding patterns. The waters off New Jersey provide prime birthing areas for bottlenose dolphins over the summer, Schoelkopf said. Humpback whales are also migrating from birthing areas off the Dominican Republic to North Atlantic waters.

"Both species rely heavily on being able to prey on tightly bunched schools of fish," Schoelkopf said. "Seismic testing disperses these schools and disrupts marine mammals' sonar needed to track prey."

The DEP provided the NSF with peer-reviewed studies that show that underwater seismic blasts cause fish to move out of areas where this type of testing is done, causing shifts in distribution and declines in numbers of fish that can be caught, and may even cause immediate mortality.

Rutgers is conducting seismic ocean blasting tests to examine changes in layers of deep-sea sediments. The project is taking place in waters 18 to 45 miles southeast of Barnegat Inlet.The process involves repeated underwater blasts of compressed air that can generate up to 250 decibels. In comparison, a jet engine generates about 160 decibels.

The U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals last year ruled against the State in its efforts seeking an injunction to block the work, which was initially scheduled to take place last summer. The project did not move forward at that time due to mechanical problems with the research vessel.


For a copy of the State's complaint, please visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/seismic-complaint.pdf

For a copy of the letter to the National Science Foundation, please visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/nsf-cordo...r-20150602.pdf

[unclegary47]

You know I've been thinking about all these Gov't studies and laws that they pass and I think the last good decision that came out of Washington was the one that limits a president to 2 terms! And that was quite a while ago . It's really feeling like the American Public are total victims in every sense of the word. Gets WORSE every year. Spoke to nephew who is a marine biologist and he said this is the biggest bunch of BS ever.
Good Fishin all UNC

[njdiver]

After a full week of operations the Marine Geophysical Survey by the R/V Marcus G. Langseth is finally listed in the 23rd week’s publication:

U.S. Department
of Homeland Security
United States
Coast Guard

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS

District: 5 Week: 23/15

(Snip)

NJ - ATLANTIC OCEAN – SEISMIC SURVEY

Mariners are advised that the research vessel MARCUS G. LANGSETH will be conducting a scientific seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean, bounded by 39-36N 73-42W, 39-42N 73-38W, 39-27N 73-09W, and 39-22N 73-13W, near Long Beach, NJ from June 1 until July 6, 2015. The vessel will be limited in ability to maneuver. There will be instrumentation extending up to 2 nautical miles from the vessel stern and 270 yards on both port and starboard of the vessel and will
be operating 24 hours a day 7 days a week for the duration of the project. The vessel can be contacted on VHF Channel 13 or 16. Mariners are urged to use caution when transiting the area. If you have any questions regarding the contents of this bulletin, please contact the Waterways Management staff at (215) 271-4814 or the Situation Unit Controller at (215) 271-4807.

Chart 12300 LNM: 20/15

(Snip)

http://navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm05232015.pdf

[Ahab123]

I emailed Rutgers with a complaint and this is the response
I got.....


Dear Scott,

Thank you for writing to me and expressing your concern about the
National Science Foundation-funded project to use acoustic images to map
the ocean floor to better understand sea level rise. The project is a
collaborative effort involving several universities, with the federal
funding from the NSF.

The project is operating in accordance with regulations established by
the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and
National Environmental Policy Act. Its permit applications were twice
approved by fisheries biologists and endangered species experts with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries
Service.

Ship operations follow strict protocols to minimize disruption to marine
wildlife. Five specialists in the behavior of marine species, who have
no association with the scientists or their research, will be on board
for the entire cruise to listen, watch, and record the behavior of
marine species 24/7. If marine mammals or turtles come within a
designated radius of the ship, its sound sources will be turned off
until the animals leave the area.

Sincerely,

Robert Barchi