Bill > AR57

Introduced Session

This resolution urges the State and federal governments to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of whales and dolphins off the coast of New Jersey. Since December 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recorded at least twelve whale deaths off the coast of New Jersey, eight of which have been humpback whales. In addition, there were also five deaths of dolphins recorded in February 2023 alone. Most of these deaths remain unexplained, but have occurred in or near areas of offshore wind energy development. Given the unprecedented number of these recent deaths, their occurrence in or near areas of offshore wind energy development may be more than coincidental and warrants State and federal investigation. A possible cause of these deaths is the increased use of sonar and other underwater mapping technologies for the development of offshore wind energy projects, which may interfere with marine mammals' ability to hear, communicate, and navigate underwater. Therefore, an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping for these offshore wind energy projects is urged, so that further scientific study of these projects' impact on marine life can be conducted.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Vicky Flynn (R)*,  Gerry Scharfenberger (R)*,  Bob Auth (R),  John Azzariti (R),  Al Barlas (R),  Brian Bergen (R),  Robert Clifton (R),  Chris DePhillips (R),  John DiMaio (R),  Aura Dunn (R),  Dawn Fantasia (R),  Michael Inganamort (R),  Paul Kanitra (R),  Michele Matsikoudis (R),  Antwan McClellan (R),  Greg McGuckin (R),  Gregory Myhre (R),  Erik Peterson (R),  Brian Rumpf (R),  Alex Sauickie (R),  Erik Simonsen (R),  Mike Torrissi (R), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document