Anyone who knows Cindy Zipf, the Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action, knows she doesn’t give up easily, actually, never. Her temerity and boldness have been responsible for considerably more attention ever being paid to protecting the ocean and its environs.
Following the death of seven whales in just over a month, Zipf and Clean Ocean Action immediately called for an investigation into the cause. With no apparent action taking place at the speed she feels is necessary. Zipf this week fired off a reaffirmation of her call for an investigation into the deaths and more protection for the marine ecosystem.
Zipf’s latest statement:
The death of seven whales in 39 days is unprecedented. They were all endangered species, which makes these deaths even more tragic and demands an immediate comprehensive investigative response. What if these ocean industrial activities were related to a fossil fuel project – would that change anyone’s view on a call to action?
Why wouldn’t the 11 offshore wind-related companies be suspected? They are currently authorized to conduct pre-construction and construction activities allowing them to harm, harass, and injure as many as 63,820 marine mammals. When has there ever been this many industrial activities permitted in the region at the same time? Where is the evidence that these deaths are not related to the intense offshore wind sonar and other geotechnical activities?
According to the National Marine Fisheries Service these pre-construction and construction activities can cause “injury” and “disruption of behavioral patterns including migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering.” With such activities, there are more ships and vessels in the area which increase potential ship strikes, and sonar can deafen or disorient whales, leading them into the path of oncoming vessels. Why shouldn’t endangered species get precautionary treatment and trigger a full investigation?
Importantly, why should offshore wind get a pass on scrutiny to ensure marine ecosystem protection, especially for endangered and protected species? Any industrial activity – especially reckless industrial development that is massive in scope, scale, magnitude, and speed – should be required to prove it is protective of the marine ecosystem.
This is why Clean Ocean Action also continues to call for a pilot project to assess threats. A pilot project could inform responsibly developed offshore wind, which was the promise of Governor Murphy
