Tag Archives: New Jersey
Learn the History of Viking Village at Stafford Library
A century ago in Barnegat Light, a group of Norwegian fishermen formed a business that today is a beacon of successful, responsible entrepreneurship. Join Karter Larson for a look at the history of Viking Village at the Stafford branch of the Ocean County Library on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. The program, which kicks off the Friends of the Stafford Library’s monthly adventure series for 2025, will shed light on the local fishing industry and the way it adapts to ongoing environmental changes to support ecology and economics. The son of co-founder Capt. John Larson, the guest speaker literally grew up in Viking Village. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:16
Cape May County Ends Litigation Over Failed Wind Energy Project
Cape May County has ended its legal battle against a proposed offshore wind energy farm after the state and federal agencies that had supported the project admitted it is “dead and will not be coming back to life.” The county had filed state and federal lawsuits to block the wind farm proposed by the Danish energy company Orsted 15 miles off the coast between Atlantic City and Stone Harbor. In the suits, the county alleged that the project would have caused far-reaching economic and environmental harm to the tourism industry, commercial fishing, migratory birds and marine life such as dolphins and whales. “By Orsted’s own calculation, Cape May County was facing a loss of over $1 billion in tourism revenue. Our fisheries industry was facing millions of dollars in losses. Marine mammals and other sea life were threatened with injury and harassment,” Cape May County Board of Commissioners Director Leonard Desiderio said in a news release Monday announcing the end of the ligation. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< Congratulations! 13:12
BOEM admits potentially irreversible harm to whales, fisheries, and seabirds
A government regulator recognizing offshore wind’s destructive environmental effects is as rare as a North Atlantic right whale. But a recent, 600-plus page report from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) admits that the offshore wind development planned for the New York Bight, the triangular area bordered by the New Jersey and Long Island coastlines may irreversibly harm whales, commercial and recreational fisheries, and seabirds. The BOEM report is the agency’s first to evaluate the cumulative impacts of offshore wind development. Its authors cite a wide range of potential effects, from negligible (or even beneficial) to major. Acknowledging potentially “major” harms is a radical departure from the agency’s previously accepted Environmental Impact Statements for offshore wind projects, which have always focused on the impacts of individual projects, rather than the cumulative impacts of multiple projects. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:28
Point Pleasant fisherman James N. Mathews has passed away
James Nestor Mathews passed away on December 4th, 2024 after 80 years of living life to its fullest. Jimmy spent over 60 years doing what he enjoyed most, catching fish from his home port of Point Pleasant NJ. He was born on October 9 th , 1944 in East Orange NJ and moved with his parents and siblings to Point Pleasant, NJ in 1956. It was there that Jimmy’s life long love of fishing took root, as he started working with his dad on his party boat the Flying Fish in the early 1960’s. During those early years with his father, Jimmy became interested in the local commercial fishing scene, and learned how to gill net, along with his life long friend Joey Pierce on a small skiff operated by Adolph Lovgren. It wasn’t long before Jimmy and Joey bought their own Skiffs to pursue the American dream. After a few years Jimmy was ready to move into a bigger boat and bought the Five Devils in 1971, a 57-foot-long dragger that worked out of the Fisherman’s Dock Co-op. He renamed it the Chrissy James and soon developed a reputation of fearlessness by fishing in some extreme weather conditions. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:36
NJ Offshore Wind Monopiles Are Being Scrapped At Port
Several massive offshore wind monopiles, manufactured at New Jersey’s cutting-edge Wind Port, are being scrapped instead of heading out to sea to become wind turbines. New Jersey’s Wind Port, located in Lower Alloways Creek was designed to be a hub for offshore wind construction, supporting the state’s ambitious clean energy goals. However, recent reports and photos indicate that monopiles at the facility are being scrapped so the material can be used for other projects. The dismantling comes in the wake of a major setback for NJ Offshore Wind. About a year ago, Ørsted, a leading wind energy developer, abruptly canceled two offshore wind projects planned for the state. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:14
Fishing Boat Raised From the Deep and Docked in Point Pleasant, But Will Be ‘Re-Sunk’
Crews from Northstar Marine led the effort to re-float the Susan Rose, which ran aground Nov. 17, 2023, after its captain missed a turn into Manasquan Inlet and ended up in the surf in Point Pleasant Beach. Salvage crews attempted to tow the boat to deeper water in the days that followed, however uncooperative weather and a broken tow line led to it sinking in about 100-feet of water a few thousand yards off the beach. Though rumors circulated that the Susan Rose, owned by The Town Dock Inc. of Narragansett, R.I., would be dismantled and sold for scrap, it will remain intact and ultimately be transported back to the ocean where it will be re-sunk. “The vessel owners are planning to donate [the boat] to the New Jersey Artificial Reef Program,” said Hajna. “The vessel will need to be cleaned and meet specific criteria before that can occur.” Video, Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:56
Video: Resolve Marine Raises the Wreck of the Susan Rose
Resolve Marine has raised the wreck of the grounded fishing vessel Susan Rose, removing a navigation hazard just south of Asbury Park. The 77-foot trawler Susan Rose ran aground on Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey in November 2023. Four people abandoned ship into the surf, with assistance from the local authorities, and all emerged unscathed despite the dangerous circumstances. Photos, Video’s more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:25
F/V Susan Rose salvage resumes off Point Beach
A second salvage attempt is underway for the 77-foot commercial fishing vessel Susan Rose, which sank one year ago off Point Pleasant Beach, according to agencies overseeing the operation. The partner agencies include the U.S. Coast Guard, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Office of Emergency Management and the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department. Resolve Marine, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Northstar Marine, based in Clermont, are handling the salvage operation. Northstar Marine oversaw the first salvage attempt. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:25
Save LBI Stays Course Despite Trump’s Promise to Kill Offshore Wind
While President-elect Donald Trump is expected to make sweeping changes to the national energy policy, including doing away with offshore wind on Day 1 of his new term, a local grassroots organization isn’t letting that news get in its way of fighting the construction of what is poised to be the country’s largest wind farm some 9 miles off the coast of Long Beach Island. “We will be filing major lawsuits by the end of the month to invalidate at least some of those prior federal approvals,” Bob Stern, president and cofounder of Save LBI, said just days after voters returned Trump to office for a second term. “In addition, we will be seeking to have the lease area itself canceled so that new projects will not be resurrected in the future.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:05
Barge Arrives to Re-Float Fishing Boat After A Year Sunk Off Point Pleasant Beach
Just a few days shy of the one-year anniversary of the sinking of the Susan Rose, a 77-foot commercial fishing vessel that ran aground on the beach just feet south of the Manasquan Inlet – then sunk a bit farther offshore following a failed effort to tow it off the beach, has been re-floated and will eventually be removed and likely sold for scrap. Crews began staging equipment last week in the area about 3,000 feet off the beach in Point Pleasant Beach where the stricken vessel dipped below the waves and sunk to the bottom in under 100-feet of water. Rumors swirled for months about what would happen to the former commercial fishing trawler, owned by The Town Dock Inc. in Narragansett, R.I., but no action took place. Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:34
Trump has vowed to kill US offshore wind projects. Will he succeed?
Opponents of offshore wind energy projects expect President-elect Donald Trump to kill an industry he has vowed to end on the first day he returns to the White House. “I believe this is a tipping point for the offshore wind industry in America,” said Robin Shaffer, president of Protect Our Coast NJ, one of the most vocal groups opposing offshore wind on the East Coast. “They have been given a glidepath by Democrat-run administrations at the federal and state level for many years. For this industry, (Tuesday’s) results will bring headwinds far greater than they have faced previously.” Commercial fishermen in Maine said they hope the Trump administration will undo policies designed to help build and approve offshore wind projects, saying regulators attempted to “future-proof” the industry against political change. Jerry Leeman, CEO of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, called on Trump to reverse a commitment to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:37
Salvage Begins on Sunken Fishing Boat in Point Pleasant Beach
Salvage efforts were set to get underway off Point Pleasant Beach this week to remove a commercial fishing vessel that sank in November 2023. The Susan Rose, a 77-foot trawler out of Port Judith, Rhode Island, ran aground on Nov. 16 in Point Pleasant Beach not far from Manasquan Inlet. It had four crew members and had been fishing for black sea bass and flounder at the time. There were no injuries in the incident. The boat then sank three days later as a marine salvage company tried to pull it off the beach. Authorities with local, state and federal agencies overseeing the salvage operation said it was set to begin this week. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:55
New Federal Report: Offshore Wind Farm Construction Can Harm Whales, Birds, Fisheries
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Monday released a new report that said whales, dolphins, birds and more can indeed be harmed — and killed —by offshore wind farms. BOEM also warned commercial fishing could be disrupted by wind farms. The report is an environmental impact statement BOEM was required to conduct of these six existing wind farm sites that were previously approved off New Jersey/Long Island. Wind turbine construction actually does increase the risk of injury to whales, particularly the underwater noise from pile-driving during construction, the federal report found. Turbine construction can permanently damage whales’ hearing. Turbines can also lead to an “increased risk of individual injury and mortality due to vessel strikes” and entanglement in fishing gear. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:36
Poll Finds Offshore Wind Projects Not a High Priority for N.J. Voters
Offshore wind projects are not a high priority for New Jersey voters, including those who support wind turbines, according to a Stockton University poll released Tuesday. Cape May County mounted a legal battle to oppose a wind farm project that would have included nearly 100 giant turbines 15 miles off the coast stretching from Atlantic City to Stone Harbor. Elected officials representing Cape May County and its beach communities asserted that the project would have caused devastating economic and environmental damage to the tourism industry, commercial fishing, migratory birds and marine life such as whales and dolphins. The developer, the Danish energy company Orsted, scrapped the project last year, blaming inflation, rising interest rates and supply-chain disruptions. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:42
Jersey Strong Coastal Coalition – New coalition of municipalities opposes New Jersey’s offshore wind projects. Thank You.
A coalition of more than 40 municipalities and organizations across New Jersey has formed to oppose the state’s large-scale offshore wind energy projects, citing concerns over rising costs to ratepayers and potential environmental impacts. The newly established Jersey Strong Coastal Coalition (JSCC) is calling on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to reject new contracts for two major wind energy projects being developed by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC, a joint venture between Shell Oil and Électricité de France. The coalition sent a letter this week to the BPU, warning of significant rate increases and outlining legal violations they argue would occur if the projects proceed. The two projects, involving 200 wind turbines with plans for 100 more, are slated for construction just 8.4 miles off the New Jersey coast. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:06
What Jersey Shore fishermen can learn from offshore wind farm spinning off Long Island
Only the silent hum of the ferry as it curved around the side of one of a dozen towering wind turbines could be heard Wednesday morning off Long Island. Nearby, fishing vessels were dwarfed by the 460-foot tall towers. A few boats flecked the horizon, traveling between the vast miles that stretched from Block Island to the South Fork wind farm. One of them was helmed by a local fisherman who’s been on these waters for over half a century. Nonetheless, Auteri and fishermen up and down the East Coast, including the Jersey Shore, have shared concerns over whether species they rely on will continue to frequent the areas where sweeping wind farms (taller than the Statue of Liberty) are sited or will be. And, they say, if it is proven wind farms drive fish away they should get money to make up for their economic loss. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:52
Offshore wind farm in N.J. draws concerns over cable path
Atlantic Shores is a joint partnership between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF-RE Offshore Development LLC. “Responsibly developed offshore wind is a critical component in a clean energy future, which will fight climate change, create union jobs and improve the air quality in overburdened communities,” said Ed Potosnak, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. Offshore wind foes, who are particularly vocal and well-organized in New Jersey, vowed to try to keep the project from ever being built. “We understand this development would be devastating for the marine and coastal habitats, and it would destroy the Jersey Shore as we know it,” said Robin Shaffer, president of Protect Our Coast NJ. The bureau said the power cables for the project will “potentially” come ashore in Atlantic City and Sea Girt. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:49
Second Minke Whale Found Dead Off Jersey Coast Days Since Offshore Wind Survey Ship Returned
A small minke whale was found dead early Friday morning near Trenton Avenue in Lavallette, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC). The whale, measuring between 10 and 12 feet, was reported to the MMSC around 6:30 a.m. The organization confirmed that this whale is different from the one sighted in the Lower Bay/Raritan Bay area on Thursday. Yesterday, a dead minke whale was found off the shoreline in Raritan Bay. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the research vessel Time and Tide has been conducting survey operations in a corridor off Manasquan Inlet since September 29. That testing will continue through November 16. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:25
Maine Unions Lead on the Green Energy Transition
Maine’s fifteen years long OSW policy debates have been hobbled by entrenched opposition from Maine’s lobstermen. It would also be impossible to convince politicians to pass an OSW law that was oblivious to the interests of Maine’s lobstermen. Governor Mills and her team reached out to Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA), but they did not break through the impasse. The MLA continues to oppose OSW by arguing about potential impacts “on the marine environment, commercial fishermen and our fishing heritage.” MLA’s opposition has grown stronger in the past few years under the influence of New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA), which is orchestrating conservative anti-OSW campaigns across the East Coast. To break this logjam, the MLCC worked with the country’s only lobstering union, Lobster 207. Though a small fraction of Maine lobster fishers are unionized, the lobstering union has a crucial role in advocating for improved working conditions within the lobstering industry. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:50
New Jersey hits pause on an offshore wind farm that can’t find turbine blades
New Jersey hit the pause button Wednesday on an offshore wind energy project that is having a hard time finding someone to manufacture blades for its turbines. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities granted Leading Light Wind a pause on its project through Dec. 20 while its developers seek a source for the crucial components. The project, from Chicago-based Invenergy and New York-based energyRE, would be built 40 miles (65 kilometers) off Long Beach Island and would consist of up to 100 turbines, enough to power 1 million homes. Leading Light was one of two projects that the state utilities board chose in January. But just three weeks after that approval, one of three major turbine manufacturers, GE Vernova, said it would not announce the kind of turbine Invenergy planned to use in the Leading Light Project, according to the filing with the utilities board. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:23
Lawmakers seek pause in offshore wind energy amid whale deaths
House lawmakers are seeking a pause in offshore wind energy projects amid a string of whale deaths along the coasts of Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Maine. Last week, a deceased whale beached off Maryland’s coast, the second whale carcass discovered in the area in three weeks. In 2023, 37 humpback whales carcasses were discovered along the East Coast. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) hosted a public hearing in August in which experts testified about the danger installing wind turbines poses marine wildlife. Harris called for an end to offshore wind energy in Maryland. The Government Accountability Office plans to investigate the impacts of offshore wind development after Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J) requested it look into the issues. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:48
Thomas Elias: Gov. Newsom committing to big wind power projects risky right now
There weren’t many causes Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed harder during the just-concluded state legislative session than offshore wind power, something that has been tried in only a few places around America. For some in the California Legislature, including state Senate President Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, this seems an easy way to modernize the state’s electric grid without risking much pollution, taking advantage of an inexhaustible natural resource — winds that often gust at 40 mph or more. However, now it’s time for Newsom to go slow before committing California electric customers (who always pay for new generating facilities via their monthly bills) to fund this largely untried renewable energy source. If adopted, a plan to build enough offshore windmills to fill about 6% of California’s electric needs would be America’s largest commitment to offshore wind power. There is not yet any offshore wind power along the Pacific Coast, but yes, there is offshore wind power on the Atlantic Coast. There’s a small (five-turbine) project off Block Island, Rhode Island. Also, there are a few windmills off Virginia and others off Massachusetts’ Nantucket Island. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:22
Concerned residents file second lawsuit against New Jersey offshore wind project over noise pollution
Save Long Beach Island, a community group created in opposition to a massive offshore wind project off the coast of New Jersey, filed its second lawsuit to block the construction of an Atlantic Shores South project. In its lawsuit against Atlantic Shore South Offshore Wind, Save Long Beach Island requested that the court require offshore wind developers to conduct a full “airborne noise assessment and pilot project before the project can proceed.” Bob Stern, president of Save Long Beach Island, notes how the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Atlantic Shores South failed to conduct an analysis of the project’s construction and operation on generating noise pollution for residents and beachgoers. However, the Bureau of Ocean Management did find that noise from the construction of turbines would have a negative effect on marine life. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:41
States to announce Friday if New England is ready for more offshore wind farm
The Captain Les Eldridge used to chase bass and tuna out of New Bedford. Now, the vessel has a new role in the nation’s emerging offshore wind industry. Anthes-Washburn said Coast Line Transfers lost a similar contract with another offshore wind farm last summer, during an industry wide contraction in the U.S. that saw planned wind farms scrapped up and down the East Coast. On Friday, Anthes-Washburn will find out if southern New England is ready to rebuild that pipeline of canceled offshore wind projects. Officials in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut are expected to announce whether they are ready to move forward with a series of proposed offshore wind farms that developers submitted through a tri-state solicitation process in March. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:52
Offshore Trojan Horses
In July, the U.S. Department of Interior greenlighted large offshore wind farms in New Jersey and Maryland. Once the financial agreements are in place, New Jersey’s Atlantic Shores and Maryland’s Marwin and Momentum will join the two large wind farms in New York approved in June. These projects will receive huge, multibillion-dollar subsidies from the federal government and electricity ratepayers. What benefits will New Jersey and Maryland enjoy from this flood of money? To answer this question, it is best to recall the classic warning of the Trojan Horse legend, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts”—in other words, the hidden dangers of accepting something that seems too good to be true. New York State ignored that warning when it agreed to pay very high prices for the electricity to be supplied from its new offshore wind farms—Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind—located off the coast of Long Island. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:37
Fishing Boat Collides with Middle Thorofare Bridge Following Power Failure
At approximately 9:30 PM on Friday, August 30th, a distress call was placed at the Middle Thorofare Bridge, alerting authorities to a serious incident involving the 90-foot commercial fishing vessel F/V Jersey Cape. The vessel had suffered a power failure and was left adrift, eventually becoming pinned against the north side of the bridge. Strong northeast winds, clocking in at over 20 MPH, combined with an outgoing tide, pushed the vessel into the bridge’s structure, complicating rescue efforts. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:01
Shore Lawmakers Call for Hearings on High-Risk Power Cables for Offshore Wind Project
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman Paul Kanitra (R-10) have issued a call for legislative hearings concerning the proposal to lay high-risk power cables through densely populated residential streets in Ocean County. These cables would supply power to a potential offshore wind turbine project, a key component of Governor Phil Murphy’s energy master plan. The legislators expressed significant concern over the potential risks associated with the project, which they argue is being pushed through without sufficient consideration for its impact on local communities. “Governor Murphy continues forcing through his reckless energy master plan with no regard to our communities and no concern for the cost, all to get his name in the news for making New Jersey the California of the East Coast,” said the Legislative District 10 Delegation. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:06
Fishermen organizing ‘flotilla’ protest against offshore wind
In response to recent concerns over offshore wind and with debris washing up on Nantucket and Island beaches from a fractured turbine blade, the New England Fisherman’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) has organized a “flotilla” for this Sunday, bringing fishing boats together to peacefully protest in unison against the offshore wind industry. Boats will be joining together in a “boat parade” from various areas of the east coast, said NEFSA founder and CEO Jerry Leeman, including the Vineyard, Nantucket, parts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and potentially New Jersey. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:03
BOEM seeks public input on possible wind energy areas
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management officials are asking for feedback on possible commercial wind energy development in areas totaling 13.47 million acres off the coasts of North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, or Central Atlantic 2. The Central Atlantic 2 Call Area “is broad to allow for flexibility to minimize conflicts with other uses, such as commercial fisheries, military activities, and vessel traffic,” according to the federal agency. This announcement builds on the input and planning that led to the first Central Atlantic lease sale on Aug. 14, the fifth offshore wind lease sale held during the Biden-Harris administration, according to BOEM. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:07
New Jersey Residents opposing power cables: Don’t make us Guinea Pigs
When wind power is generated, it needs to go somewhere. And residents of southern Monmouth County say right now, they’re in the line of fire, as plans call for much of the energy produced by an offshore wind project — located nowhere near the county’s coast — to come ashore in Monmouth County and run underneath a handful of municipalities. “I think we still have time to fight this,” said Glenn Hughes, a founding member of the group Stop the High-Risk Power Cables. According to locals, contractors have already begun visiting the area to finalize their bids for a project to install the wind power transmission cables underground. The bids are due by the end of September. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:06
