Seismic Ocean Blasting Proposal is Back

Seismic Study to Return This Summer... Blast the Study, Not the Ocean!

A research study led by Rutgers University and funded by the National Science Foundation is back, and is 26 times worse than originally proposed. This study will blast the ocean with 4 seismic air gun arrays at 246 decibels, every 5-6 seconds, 24 hours a day, for 30 days. If permitted, the Rutgers study can cause “any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance” to 18,457 marine mammals, including over 12,500 bottlenose dolphins and their infant calves. These explosive sounds would have had a devastating impact on marine life, including whales, dolphins, sea turtles, fish and shellfish. The blasting could also harm NJ’s tourism and fishing industries.

Thousands of citizens signed petition signatures, and hundreds of concerned citizens, including federal state and local elected officials rallied in opposition. In the summer of 2014, the State of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) even went to court to stop it. Between robust opposition and equipment failures on the ship, the permit for the study expired and marine life was spared.

The fight isn't over. Loud opposition from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, federal and state elected officials, fishermen, community members, and concerned citizens has not stopped Rutgers University and the National Science Foundation; they intend to continue their dangerous study, possiblyas early as June 1, 2015.

We the undersigned oppose all seismic blasting off including the study proposed by Rutgers University and others off the NJ coast in 2015. We call upon Rutgers University President, Robert Barchi, to stop this study.

For more information on who is conducting the study and the impacts to marine life, visit cleanoceanaction.org.

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