Booker, Menendez call for answers on whale deaths

WASHINGTON D.C. — Two U.S. senators from New Jersey joined a growing call for federal action and speedier information sharing following an unusually high numbers of strandings along the East Coast.

Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, both Democrats from New Jersey, wrote to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, on Tuesday regarding the recent deaths of numerous humpbacks and North Atlantic right whales.

They joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island in calling for additional federal resources for NOAA to investigate the deaths and clearer details on when information about the necropsy results would be shared publicly.

Since Dec. 1, at least 10 whales have died along New Jersey's coastline.

Between Maine and Florida, marine mammal observers and boaters documented 15 humpback deaths and two North Atlantic right whale deaths so far this year, according to NOAA.

The spike in whale deaths goes back to 2016 and 2017, depending on the species, however "in recent months, there has been a concerning number of whale deaths along the Atlantic coast," the senators wrote in their letter to NOAA. "There are fewer than 340 (North Atlantic right whales) remaining, including fewer than 70 breeding females, and without action, the (North Atlantic right whale) will likely go extinct."

Preliminary findings from examination of many of the whale carcasses suggest vessel strikes are to blame, according to NOAA. Other carcasses were too decomposed by the time they washed ashore to give marine mammal experts reliable evidence about what lead to the deaths.

NOAA issued boat speed restrictions in 2008 with the aim of protecting whales, according to the senators. The agency is currently considering additional restrictions that will be finalized in June 2023, according to officials.

NOAA will also be receiving additional funding for whale research aimed at reducing risks from entanglement in fishing gear and money for studying stranded whales and other marine mammals, according to the senators.

“We believe accessibility, transparency, and timeliness is of the utmost importance for NOAA’s whale injury and death reporting,” the group wrote to the agency.

They called for NOAA to share its need for additional resources "to strengthen its efforts to protect and conserve marine mammals and prevent their deaths.” They also sought a timeline for when results of the investigations would be shared with the public, what information sharing was happening other marine mammal stranding partners, and details on what barriers exist to getting answers.

Washington Republicans have different view of the whale deaths. They are laying the blame for whale deaths mostly on offshore wind development, saying underwater sonar mapping and pre-construction activity are disrupting the whales' behavior and triggering the deaths.

Republican Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, both of New Jersey, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland and Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania called for a moratorium on offshore wind work and investigations into the whale deaths.

NOAA officials, scientists from several federal agencies and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection say there is no evidence that offshore wind work has caused whale deaths.

NJ whale deaths:See the full list to learn how each of them died

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Booker, Menendez call for answers on whale deaths