{"id":257503,"date":"2023-05-15T12:56:21","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T10:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=257503"},"modified":"2023-05-15T12:56:23","modified_gmt":"2023-05-15T10:56:23","slug":"marine-mammal-deaths-and-wind-power-development-evidence-aplenty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=257503","title":{"rendered":"Marine Mammal Deaths and Wind Power Development: Evidence Aplenty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From\u00a0Master Resource<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Sherri Lange — May 15, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cAs of mid-March 2023, NOAA Fisheries has handed out 15 marine mammal Incidental Take Authorizations<\/strong> (ITAs) to offshore wind projects from NC to MA. These will allow companies to \u2018take\u2019 111,817 whales, dolphins and seals. The harassment, injury, and killing of marine mammals are referred to as \u2018takes\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let the debate continue on the cause of the recent surge of whale deaths in the vicinity of several wind farms off the northeastern coast. But note the case of such a causal relationship, which appears to be growing, not receding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider this letter from a local citizen in the local newspaper, EastBayRI (May 10, 2023), \u201c\u2018Take\u2019 authorizations prove NOAA is lying about whale deaths<\/strong>:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The marine science community knows this much for certain: The high-resolution geophysical (HRG) surveys used to site offshore wind turbines and transmission cabling causes harm and mortality to marine mammals. They know the intense noise of pounding thousands of monopiles deep into the seabed, along with an exponential increase of vessel traffic during construction and for maintenance afterwards will do the same\u2014disturb, injure, and kill marine life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the proof: As of mid-March 2023, NOAA Fisheries has handed out 15 marine mammal Incidental Take Authorizations<\/strong> (ITAs) to offshore wind projects from NC to MA. These will allow companies to \u201ctake\u201d 111,817 whales, dolphins and seals. The harassment, injury, and killing of marine mammals are referred to as \u201ctakes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 111,817 figure is the tally of 118 \u201cLevel A\u201d and 111,699 \u201cLevel B\u201d takes. Level A includes permanent hearing loss and other bodily injury. Level B harassment includes behavioral disturbance (such as frightening an animal from its normal feeding area) and temporary hearing loss. A deafened whale fleeing into a shipping channel is likely a dead whale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is illegal to take any federally listed animal, that is, unless one applies for and is granted an ITA. An \u201cincidental\u201d take is defined as, \u201can unintentional, but not unexpected taking of a protected species.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOAA is in the final stages of approving an additional 1,272 Level A and 477,285 Level B takes of marine mammals for another 11 wind projects. Soon the approved ITA count will permit wind companies to disturb, injure or cause the death of 590,374 marine mammals. These figures were compiled by carefully searching 26 individual wind project ITA requests. NOAA either does not have or will not share cumulative take numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The data reveals that NOAA has either granted or is in the final stages of granting Level B takes for 915 critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, of which there are only 334 remaining animals alive. Either this means NOAA and the wind companies expect repeated harassment (including recurrent hearing impairment) of numerous right whales, or they have not taken the trouble to realize they have granted more \u201ctakes\u201d than the number of live whales who exist today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of 387 A and 21,704 B takes have been or are close to being approved for whales. These numbers include the taking of five species of endangered whales. For eight dolphin species A takes total 140; B takes total 474,605. A takes total 658 for harbor porpoise; B takes total 24,122 porpoises. A takes total 205 harbor, grey, and harp seals; B takes total 68,553 seals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The numbers of \u201cnot unexpected\u201d harassment and injury of marine mammals are staggering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOAA states in its February posting of Sunrise Wind\u2019s ITA request (NOAA-NMFS-2023-0012): \u201cProject activities likely to result in incidental take include pile driving\u2026and vessel-based site assessment surveys using HRG equipment<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still NOAA has only one answer to the question being asked by thousands of coastal residents as to whether wind companies\u2019 recent seismic testing might be related to the highly unusual number of whale strandings: NO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are they lying?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Constance Gee<\/strong> Westport, RI<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Still NOAA has only one answer to the question being asked by thousands of coastal residents as to whether wind companies\u2019 recent seismic testing might be related to the highly unusual number of whale strandings: NO.
\nWhy are they lying?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":257506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691819563,691818397,691819565,691819564,691818337],"class_list":{"0":"post-257503","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-dolphins-death","9":"tag-noaa","10":"tag-offshore-wind-projects","11":"tag-seal-death","12":"tag-whale-deaths","14":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0-GE-offshore-windfarm.jpeg?fit=2048%2C1351&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-14Zh","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":251742,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=251742","url_meta":{"origin":257503,"position":0},"title":"Licence to Kill: NOAA is lying about whale deaths","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"08\/04\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"A total of 387 A and 21,704 B takes have been or are close to being approved for whales. These numbers include the taking of five species of endangered whales. For eight dolphin species A takes total 140; B takes total 474,605. A takes total 658 for harbor porpoise; B\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Dead dolphins\"","block_context":{"text":"Dead dolphins","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=dead-dolphins"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0_87879393_whales.jpg?fit=976%2C730&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0_87879393_whales.jpg?fit=976%2C730&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0_87879393_whales.jpg?fit=976%2C730&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0_87879393_whales.jpg?fit=976%2C730&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":266551,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=266551","url_meta":{"origin":257503,"position":1},"title":"Fate Sealed: Government Greenlights Wind Industry to Kill 5,000 Whales, Dolphins &\u00a0Seals","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/07\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Wiping out hundreds of marine mammals is all in a day\u2019s work for the offshore wind industry. And granting permits to do so, with complete impunity, appears to be the work of the US government.","rel":"","context":"In \"Dead dolphins\"","block_context":{"text":"Dead dolphins","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=dead-dolphins"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/00.69856200_1486964235_whale-beaching.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/00.69856200_1486964235_whale-beaching.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/00.69856200_1486964235_whale-beaching.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/00.69856200_1486964235_whale-beaching.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":255592,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=255592","url_meta":{"origin":257503,"position":2},"title":"CFACT to Feds: Wind turbine survey cuts off whale migration corridor","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/05\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Biden Administration is preparing to rush approval for the Atlantic Shores offshore wind project, which is located approximately 10-20 miles off the coast of New Jersey between Atlantic City and Barnegat Light, despite the risk it poses to marine mammals \u2014 particularly the severely endangered right whale.","rel":"","context":"In \"NOAA\"","block_context":{"text":"NOAA","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=noaa"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00-dead-whale-New-Jersey.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00-dead-whale-New-Jersey.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00-dead-whale-New-Jersey.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00-dead-whale-New-Jersey.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/00-dead-whale-New-Jersey.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":260782,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=260782","url_meta":{"origin":257503,"position":3},"title":"NOAA proposes massively cruel offshore sonar survey","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/06\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"You would think that with all the uproar over whale deaths, NOAA and the offshore wind industry would be more careful about harassing huge numbers of marine mammals. On the contrary, NOAA\u2019s latest proposal sets a new record for needless cruelty.","rel":"","context":"In \"ECR area\"","block_context":{"text":"ECR area","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=ecr-area"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0IMG_3005.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0IMG_3005.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0IMG_3005.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0IMG_3005.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0IMG_3005.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":256010,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=256010","url_meta":{"origin":257503,"position":4},"title":"RELEASE: Save the whales coalition warns NOAA \u2014 Don\u2019t allow more harassment from wind power","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/05\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Dominion Energy recently submitted a \u201cRequest for Rulemaking and Letter of Authorization for Taking of Marine Mammals\u201d as dead whales have been increasingly washing ashore along the Atlantic Coast. The Save the Whale Coalition says that NOAA granting Dominion\u2019s request would prompt litigation to stop it.","rel":"","context":"In \"NOAA\"","block_context":{"text":"NOAA","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=noaa"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/016632502-mmmainjpg-dceb482c98b20d05.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/016632502-mmmainjpg-dceb482c98b20d05.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/016632502-mmmainjpg-dceb482c98b20d05.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/016632502-mmmainjpg-dceb482c98b20d05.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/016632502-mmmainjpg-dceb482c98b20d05.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":259347,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=259347","url_meta":{"origin":257503,"position":5},"title":"Is Dominion\u2019s offshore wind project \u2018arbitrary and capricious\u2019? NOAA says YES!","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"27\/05\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been issuing a raft of \u201cIncidental Harassment Authorizations\u201d (IHA) to offshore wind developers. The IHAs allow the developers to \u201charass\u201d marine mammals \u2013 including critically endangered Right Whales \u2013 as long as the activity is \u201cincidental\u201d to some form of offshore\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Dominion Energy\"","block_context":{"text":"Dominion Energy","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=dominion-energy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0EAC_North-Atl-Right-whale_Wikimedia-Commons_CC0_1600X900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0EAC_North-Atl-Right-whale_Wikimedia-Commons_CC0_1600X900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0EAC_North-Atl-Right-whale_Wikimedia-Commons_CC0_1600X900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0EAC_North-Atl-Right-whale_Wikimedia-Commons_CC0_1600X900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/0EAC_North-Atl-Right-whale_Wikimedia-Commons_CC0_1600X900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=257503"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":257509,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257503\/revisions\/257509"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/257506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=257503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=257503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=257503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}