Press Release: New Organization Created to Protect the North Atlantic Right Whale from Offshore Wind Industrialization
A group of concerned citizens, scientists, and conservationists have created the Save Right Whales Coalition, which seeks a moratorium on the construction of offshore wind projects until their impact on the critically-endangered North Atlantic Right Whale and other wildlife is fully understood. Members of SRWC will take part in the Vineyard Wind public comment period on November 18 and will announce the launch of the coalition in a press conference on November 19 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Zoom link here.
In January of 2019 the National Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Conservation Law Foundation entered into an unprecedented agreement with Vineyard Wind which they say will protect right whales by limiting vessel speeds, requiring whale detection measures, and limiting pile driving activity to the summer and fall, periods when right whales have historically not been present in the project area. Pile driving creates far-reaching noise pollution that can hinder whale calls used to maintain contact, gather to feed, and find mates. The construction technique and other anthropogenic sounds also result in habitat displacement, hearing loss, and, in right whales specifically, increased stress levels.
The Save Right Whales Coalition believes that the mitigation measures are insufficient. Recent research shows that right whales are increasingly present in the planned construction area year round due to changes in migration patterns. Additionally, existing detection measures are ineffective for right whales, which are hard to spot because of their dark color, and often missed by acoustic listening when they do not vocalize loudly.
Existing evidence does not support the claim that offshore wind will have only minimal pressures on wildlife, including the North Atlantic right whale, of which there are less than 350 still living. NOAA Fisheries, the New England Aquarium, and the Center for Coastal Studies report that more studies are needed to understand the impacts of offshore wind on federally-listed endangered species.
Serious questions remain unanswered about the impact of industrial wind projects on right whales. The group has sent an open letter to the people of Massachusetts, describing in depth why more thorough studies on the impacts on right whales and other marine life are necessary before any offshore wind projects proceed.
Topic: Save Right Whales Coalition Press Conference
Time: Nov 19, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83169205236?pwd=NUUvR29jSHExT3gyUW1Ec2t5bkY4UT09
Meeting ID: 831 6920 5236
Passcode: 081272
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,83169205236#,,,,*081272# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,83169205236#,,,,*081272# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 831 6920 5236
Passcode: 081272
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbnpji1iPR