World Ocean Day Prompts Calls For Action

lack of investigation and lack of transparency into the string of deaths of whales and other marine mammals, especially with endangered species at grave risk.” public aware “of the threats to our ocean and what can happen if we become complacent.”

“While federal agencies so boldly and confidently contend that offshore wind energy has nothing to do with the deaths of these marine mammals, they have provided no evidence. In fact, the agencies highlight ‘noise’ as a major factor in marine mammal harm. This is alarming as the impacts on marine life from noise are only growing and intensifying with the increase of offshore wind activity. That’s why we need a pilot project,” she added.

Naturalist Trisha DeVoe at left, joins the Bikini Boys Larry Watkins and Tom Oldewurteln, (fellow Bikini Boy Dave Bobal is absent from this photo) at a sand sculpture featuring the Clean Ocean Action logo and a whale during World Ocean Day in Seaside Park.

Lavallette resident Brick Wenzel spoke to Jersey Shore Online.com from the perspective of a commercial fisherman.

“I am the fishing liaison for the Fishermen’s Dock Cooperative out of Point Pleasant Beach. I have been a licensed commercial fisherman since 1982. When you look at the industrialization of our ocean, the commercial fishing industry is the most heavily impacted blue water economy with the industrial build out.”

He brought along some ocean maps and charts to the event to show some of the prob- lems that commercial fishermen were facing and what he said were missteps by state authorities. There was an area that had been leased out by the government that is highly traveled by marine life. He said it never should have been leased out.

COA members announced an action campaign that calls upon citizens to become voices for the sea to improve and protect the ocean, including from new and harmful ocean industrialization. They advocated for permanent protection of the New York/New Jersey Bight.

COA Advocacy Campaign Manager Kari Martin said, “it is unfathomable to see the

The Clean Ocean Zone was launched as a campaign against old, new, and renewed threats. The organization continues to call for a pilot project to determine the true impacts of offshore wind industrialization, and continues to serve its mission to stop ocean pollution sources.

“We have come a long way and the ocean is now thriving. Everyone knows the ocean is key to the health of the planet, but few know a healthy ocean is also the planet’s best buffer against climate change. Sustaining a healthy ocean is the key to solving climate change,” COA Executive Director Cindy Zipf said.

“The ocean is our last great open space, which should not be sold, leased, developed, industrialized or used for profit. It must be protected and preserved. There is a connectedness and balance to all of our natural environments and ecosystems; harming one will have a ripple effect on others, and on us,” said Leslie Mangold, concerned citizen and ocean advocate.

(Ocean Day - See Page 8)