Dead whales washing up on NJ beaches.

I'm not a whale expert, but according to TV programs, whales beaching themselves does happen. The whales seem to be determined to beach themselves. There are reports of whales being dragged off the beach, only to have the whale swim right back.???? We have a lot of theories, but I don't think we know why they beach themselves.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I'm not a whale expert, but according to TV programs, whales beaching themselves does happen. The whales seem to be determined to beach themselves. There are reports of whales being dragged off the beach, only to have the whale swim right back.???? We have a lot of theories, but I don't think we know why they beach themselves.
Click to expand...
I thought they discovered years ago that submarine sonar use is one of the big culprits and it's a noise tthat drives them crazy or puts them pain. A large scale underwater construction project is probably using somekind of sonar to see the bottom.
 

WhatInThe said:
A rash of dead whales have been washing up on New Jersey beaches.. Some say off shore construction activity for wind farms may be the culprit.

https://nypost.com/2023/01/13/7th-dead-whale-washes-up-on-jersey-shore/
Click to expand...
Interesting, maybe just due to an increased population? We have been protecting whales for a while. Just speculation, I have seen no statistics on this.

I am skeptical it has anything to do with wind farms, not many of those in New Jersey. A number in the planning stage, but not yet built. According to the article:

The NOAA is part of an ongoing study into increased reports of humpback whale deaths along the East Coast over the last several years. Since 2016, 174 dead stranded humpbacks have been reported across 13 states. Only about 87 were necropsied, of which 40% were determined to have died due to ship strikes or being entangled, the agency said.

As a whole the whale population along our east coast is not considered threatened. NOAA lists vessel strikes and harassments and entanglement in net gear as the biggest risks to the humpbacks. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/humpback-whale
 
WhatInThe said:
I thought they discovered years ago that submarine sonar use is one of the big culprits and it's a noise tthat drives them crazy or puts them pain. A large scale underwater construction project is probably using somekind of sonar to see the bottom
Click to expand...
It was theorized that sonar might interfere with whales. The US Navy did report that sonar could possibly interfere with whales -for whatever that's worth. But without any reliable data, the whales haven't said this is why they are beaching. They do seem to beach in similar type areas. Again, the whales given us the indications for the reason why, so without any real data to indicate why........................
 
I was going to post about this. Yes, I read the same as what you cited as possible reasons. At least one of them washed up on the beach of my home away from home...Atlantic City. I've stayed in Brigantine with both my husband and my sister because we have access to a resort there as part of our timeshare ownership. It's just a short drive across the bridge and the island is visible from our AC timeshare balcony. We've passed the Marine Mammal Stranding Center building when driving through Brigantine. I can't remember if we ever went inside though. I'm glad I wasn't there to see any of the beached whales. Still it makes me sad.
 
Last edited:
After months of protests and cost issues the company in charge Orsted has delayed the project until 2026

Orsted delays 1st New Jersey wind farm until 2026; not ready to 'walk away' from project

The complained a few days earlier that US projects costing them billions of dollars.

Orsted plunges 20% on risk of $2.3 billion in US impairments

Not the first windfarm project to be halted in the US with in the last year. Massachusetts project too costly.

Massachusetts wind power project 'no longer viable' without contract adjustments, says developer
 
Last edited:
WhatInThe said:
I thought they discovered years ago that submarine sonar use is one of the big culprits and it's a noise tthat drives them crazy or puts them pain. A large scale underwater construction project is probably using somekind of sonar to see the bottom.
Click to expand...
When my Navy Vet son was assigned to a destroyer in the Pacific i remember him telling me they had to turn their sonar off if whale pod spotted. And there was almost always someone assigned to be on deck watching for them .

I can see where underwater construction might use sonar, but not be concerned with whale safety.
 
Warmer waters might be the cause, I know that the warmer
air is playing havoc with me, I get too hot and uncomfortable,
we don't know what a change in temperature does to whales.

Mike.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top