Where’s proof on whale death claim?

Editor,

Last week, Ocean City’s mayor sent out a social media post stating misinformation in strong opposition to the position of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). There are many in the offshore wind opposition community that don’t believe in science. Since the mayor of Maryland’s premiere resort city is echoing their beliefs, I believe it’s important that Marylanders get the other side of the story.

For those that would like to read a science based analysis of this subject, I urge you to look at NOAA’s website, especially the following: fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/marine-life-distress/frequent-questions-offshore-wind-and-whales.

Here are a few excerpts:

Is U.S. offshore wind development linked to any whale deaths? We work with our partners to analyze and understand the causes of death when we are able, following the science and data. At this point, there is no scientific evidence that noise resulting from offshore wind site characterization surveys could potentially cause whale deaths.

Does NOAA Fisheries authorize the death of whales as it relates to offshore wind development? NOAA Fisheries does not anticipate and has not authorized—or proposed to authorize — death or serious injury of whales for any wind-related action.

Are whale strandings on the East Coast related to offshore wind development?

At this point, there is no scientific evidence that noise resulting from offshore wind site characterization surveys could potentially cause whale deaths. There are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities.

There’s far more information on this and other topics at this website and others.  If you are the mayor of Ocean City or others that only support an anti-Offshore Wind agenda, this is not the website for you.  It will probably anger you because it doesn’t tell the story you wish to hear. For people with that agenda, you might want to get your information from the mayor or council of Ocean City. They’ve already commissioned their own studies and publicly stated that if the study turns up evidence that doesn’t fit their agenda, they won’t release it to the public.

Doug Miller
Jessup