Last year, there were numerous calls for a moratorium on offshore wind development from local political and community leaders who voiced concern about a string of whale strandings in New Jersey. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as other scientists, said vessel strikes have caused an uptick in whale deaths since 2016 — not offshore wind activity.
The funding announced this week aims to ensure potential impacts to whales and other wildlife from offshore wind activities will be mitigated.
The dollars will help the NOAA lead aerial surveys in coastal New Jersey to identify whale activity from New York to North Carolina.
Rutgers University researchers also will receive funding to use satellite…
