Emergency Meeting to Try to Stop Seismic Blasting - 7/2/14

[Angler Paul]

Please try to attend!

Thanks, Paul Haertel
JCAA President

The Fight Isn't Over to Stop Ocean Blasting
Hundreds to attend Emergency Meeting tomorrow July 2nd at 5pm
Barnegat Fire Hall - 10 W. 10th Street, Barnegat Light, NJ 08006

WHAT:


Upon learning that the National Marine Fisheries Service issued the appalling authorization today to put hundreds of whales, dolphins, and thousands of other marine life at grave risk, Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action, said, "The fight is not over. We are using all options available including public opposition. There is an Emergency Meeting tomorrow at 5 pm in Barnegat Light where Congressman LoBiondo, local elected officials, and hundreds of citizens can learn more about what is being done and how to help.”


Hundreds of citizens, the NJDEP, Members of Congress, commercial and recreational fishing leaders, scientists, divers, elected officials, marine mammal protectors—those who care and depend on a healthy marine life will gather at an emergency meeting to learn about the harm and risks of ocean blasting and ask Governor Christie and Members of Congress to back up the NJDEPs strong opposition to recent Rutgers' imminent seismic testing, and stop the study.



WHO:
US Representative Frank LoBiondo
Mayor Kirk Larson, Barnegat Light
Representative from NJDEP
Cindy Zipf, Executive Director, Clean Ocean Action
Bob Schoelkopf, Director, Marine Mammal Stranding Center
Raymond Bogan, Esq., Board Secretary, Marine Trades Association of New Jersey
Jim Donofrio, Executive Director, Recreational Fishing Alliance
Captain Kevin Wark, Captain of the fishing vessel "Dana Christine" - Barnegat Light

Meeting Sponsors: Anglers Conservation Network; Berkeley Striper Club; Clean Ocean Action; CWA local1075; Captain Paul Eidman - Reel Therapy Fly and Light Tackle Charters; Mayor Kirk Larson - Barnegat Light; Jersey Coast Anglers Association.; New Jersey Beach Buggy Association; New Jersey Council of Divers; New Jersey Outdoor Alliance; New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs; Point Pleasant Fishermen’s Dock Cooperative; Recreational Fishing Alliance; Save Barnegat Bay; Surfrider Foundation Mid-Atlantic Region; Capt Eddie Yates - United Boatman of New Jersey; and Viking Village

Photo-Op: Large Crowd, Signs, Banner w/Message to Governor Christie

BACKGROUND:

The Rutgers University led study will be conducted off Barnegat Light to examine 60 million-year-old sediments for historical sea level changes; however, despite Rutgers’ claims, the study is being conducted during peak migration and/or breeding of whales, dolphins, turtles, fish, and shellfish. Divers are also at risk.

"The study would send seismic blasts of up to 250 decibels into the water every 5 seconds, 24 hours a day for 30 days, interfering with marine animal communication and movement. By way of comparison, impairment of human hearing begins after 30 seconds of exposure at 115 decibels. Marine animals are much more sensitive to sound than people are,” said Cassandra Ornell, Staff Scientist at Clean Ocean Action."

Marine life at risk includes:

· 26 marine mammal species, including 6 endangered whale species and other whales, dolphins, and seals, may be located in or moving through the study area. Seismic blasting can interfere with marine mammal movement, breathing, communication, and feeding, and can even cause hearing damage.
· Nine of the 16 most important offshore commercial fisheries are at their peaks in the summer months. Seismic blasts can cause fish and squid to scatter and impact catch rates.
· New Jersey offshore waters are host to five threatened or endangered sea turtle species. Sea turtles exposed to much lower sound levels than proposed in this study have shown significant behavioral impacts.

Clean Ocean Action is a non-profit, broad-based coalition of 135 conservation, environmental, fishing, boating, diving, student, surfing, women’s, business, service, and community groups, with a mission to improve the degraded water quality of the marine waters off the New Jersey/New York coast. COA has a decades-long history of science- and law-based advocacy for a clean, industry-free Atlantic Ocean.

[SaltLife1980]

Gotta put a stop to this crap!!