Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BRIAN E. RUMPF
District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
Assemblywoman DIANNE C. GOVE
District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Urges cancellation of seismic blasting plans in Atlantic Ocean near Barnegat Bay.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the National Marine Fisheries Service to cancel seismic blasting plans in the Atlantic Ocean near Barnegat Bay, New Jersey.
Whereas, The National Marine Fisheries Service within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has received authorization for marine mammal “takes” during an oceanic seismic study which would be conducted in the Atlantic Ocean about 15 miles from Barnegat Bay in summer 2015; and
Whereas, The authorization allows over 25 marine mammal species, six of which are endangered, to be subjected to noise created from seismic airguns and three other acoustic blast technologies; and
Whereas, Seismic testing is known to have the potential to seriously harm marine life; and
Whereas, One such test that may be used near Barnegat Bay is a multibeam echosounder (MBES), which has been implicated in the stranding of over 100 melon-headed whales off the coast of Madagascar; and
Whereas, The proposed testing area is also a key habitat for squid and summer flounder, which are important local fisheries; and
Whereas, The tests will negatively impact an area just beginning to recover from the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy, while the marine life populations continue to suffer from sea level rise, marine acidification, and pollution; and
Whereas, While scientific research is extremely important and vital to the health of the ocean and marine life, there is no need for this particular study, which will pose an unnecessary risk to certain marine life; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The National Marine Fisheries Service is respectfully urged to cancel all plans relating to the performance of seismic testing in the Atlantic Ocean near Barnegat Bay, New Jersey.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to Richard L. Merrick, Ph.D., Director, Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the regional administrator for the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and every member of congress elected from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution would urge the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to cancel all plans relating to the performance of seismic testing in the Atlantic Ocean near Barnegat Bay, New Jersey.
The NMFS has received authorization for marine mammal “takes” during an oceanic seismic study about 15 miles from Barnegat Bay in summer 2015. The authorization allows over 25 marine mammal species, six of which are endangered, to be subjected to noise created from seismic airguns and three other acoustic blast technologies. One such test uses a multibeam echosounder (MBES), which has been implicated in the stranding of over 100 melon-headed whales off the coast of Madagascar. The proposed testing area affected by the authorization is a key habitat for squid and summer flounder, which are important local fisheries. The testing, if conducted, would negatively impact an area just beginning to recover from the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy. Accordingly, this resolution urges the cancellation of seismic blasting plans near Barnegat Bay.