Conference Audio & Report Info
Listen to audio file from last night’s phone conference here
View Navesink / Shrewsbury River report here.
Other information on the dolphins including the necropsy report can be viewed on the bottom right side of the NOAA web page under Seminar Materials
Add comment December 18, 2008
TONITE: 12/17 Phone Conference Open to The Public
Topics will include the pod’s health risks, behavior, bridge construction noise, and the biopsy results of 2 other dolphins found dead in the river this fall.
Information on the panelists and seminar materials can be found on the NOAA website at www.nefsc.noaa.gov/njdolphins after 3 p.m. Wednesday. Questions can be emailed to NOAA at nj.dolphins@noaa.gov.
An article in today’s Asbury Park Press mentions the NOAA’s refusal for aid from other animal rescue groups. I’m looking forward to hearing their reasons in tonite’s phone conference.
Add comment December 17, 2008
Is Bridge Construction Keeping Dolphins in River?
According to The Associated Press, it’s assumed that some of the Navesink / Shrewsbury River dolphins may have made it out of the river.
On Saturday, dolphins were seen around the Route 36 bridge (Sea Bright / Highlands). Bob Schoelkopf, co-director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, said the animals looked like they wanted to go under the bridge and back out to the open waters of Sandy Hook Bay.
Schoelkopf also stated that some of the young dolphins appeared hesitant to go under the span, where noisy repair work is going on above.
“It looked like they were really trying to get out,” Schoelkopf said. “I have a feeling it might be a problem with the juveniles afraid to go through” the channels under the bridge. They were moving around erratically, and there was some tail-slapping, which is a sign of aggravation,” he said.
With freezing temperatures and parts of the river icing over, federal wildlife authorities now fear the group may freeze to death in the frigid waters like the 1993 Shrewsbury dolphins.
Well now. Nice to see we’re all finally on the same page.
According to the Marine Animal Stranding Station website (click on “Articles” link), the NOAA has rejected help from 4 marine animal groups in Florida which have offered to help rescue the pod. I don’t know what they’re waiting for…
The Brigantine Marine Animal Stranding Station & the NOAA are preparing for a mass stranding scenario, where all the dolphins become distraught and beach themselves. They are prepared for one dolphin stranding, but a mass stranding will be taxing on the rescuers and what limited resources they have. Additional resources will be needed and there are not many facilities that can take more than 2 dolphins at a time.
If bridge construction is to blame, why has the NJ Dept. of Transportation dragged their heels for so long to halt construction to let the dolphins out? Could it possibly take more than a few days?
I can’t give any explanation as to why this wasn’t an option months ago, and even more so why it was never executed. However, here’s how you can contact the NJDOT to voice concern.
NJ Dept. of Transportation
contact form: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/contact/
Erin Phalon 609-530-4280
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Or contact Governor Corzine to halt bridge construction so they can leave:
PH: (609) 777-2500
Gov. Corzine online form & instructions http://www.state.nj.us/governor/about/contact/index.html
1. Choose “Natural Resources” from the form drop menu.
2. Then choose “Fish, Game & Wildlife” from the next drop menu.
3. Fill out form
4. Save dolphins.
5. Feel good.
1 comment December 15, 2008
Dolphin Euthanized in Shrewsbury River
Not the dolphin that died, just a photo of one from Planet Whale blog
11/21: The second common dolphin has died in the Shrewsbury River. Neither of the latest found common dolphins are part of the bottlenose gang that have been in the rivers since June. They’re found further out at sea, which makes this a bit odd. This second dolphin discovered was emaciated and had to be euthanized. There’s not much online about it yet other than the NJ.com article
11/14: First common dolphin found dead in the Shrewsbury River.
1 comment November 21, 2008
No Dolphin Removal Plan: NOAA’s Explanation
Credit: Emma Jugovich, NOAA
Straight from the horse’s mouth, an article published by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explaining their reasons for not escorting the dolphins out of the river.
If are not satisfied with the NOAA decision, share your thoughts via a respectful email or phone call. They seem very willing to discuss the matter with anyone who asks.
David.Gouveia: David.Gouveia@noaa.gov or 978-281-9505
Teri Frady: teri.frady@noaa.gov or 508 -495-2239
http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/
Or…just send them winter sweaters to give to the dolphins.
It’s been assumed that the bridge construction near Sandy Hook could be keeping the pod from exiting the river. If construction ceased for some period of time perhaps they will leave on their own.
As stated in the latest Red Bank Green article, “…acoustical measurements and other forms of observation are being stepped up to determine if construction work on the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge might serve as an obstacle to the dolphins’ exit if and when the animals decide to leave”.
Contact Governor Corzine with a respectful email and share your thoughts:
1. Just click here: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/about/contact/index.html
2. Choose “Natural Resources” from the drop down menu & click “continue”
3. On the next page choose “Fish, Game & Wildlife” from the drop down menu and fill out the form.
You can also contact Governor Corzine by writing to:
The Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0001
PH: (609) 777-2500
2 comments October 24, 2008
NOAA to monitor, not remove dolphins
Dolphins on the west side of the Oceanic Bridge in mid-July. (Photo courtesy of Mary Fenton)
After much talk about drawing up a plan for removing the dolphins, the NOAA has decided against doing anything, citing that “dolphins are just doing what dolphins have done for millions of years and there’s no urgent reason to try to get them to leave”, according to Red Bank Green. They assume the dolphins can survive the winter here because dolphins have been known to spend winters in other rivers. But the rivers they refer to are more south like Virginia.
Has everyone forgotten that the Navesink river freezes over? I mean, there’s even an ice boat club on the SAME river.
Case & Point: The Shrewsbury River dolphins froze to death in 1993.
Add comment October 24, 2008
Dolphins Tempting Fate in River
In this New York Times article the dolphin plot thickens:
should they stay or should they go?
Add comment October 22, 2008
Pod splits up
Some dolphins leave while others stay. Is this evidence that like people, dolphins get sick of each other if they spend too much time together?
http://www.wnbc.com/news/17538057/detail.html
Add comment September 23, 2008
Marine Animal Stranding Station: dolphins at risk
File / Gannett New Jersey
The NOAA and Marine Animal Stranding Station have different opinions regarding the safety of the dolphins, the potential harm to them, or why they are even still in the river. Pile driving and other bridge work is a contributing factor for this debate.
Add comment September 14, 2008
Dolphins make their grand entrance: June 2008
In June 2008 the dolphin pod makes its way into the Shrewsbury River, receiving national celebrity status. View CNN video here (just bear with the commercial shown first): http://tinyurl.com/64nl4j
Add comment June 28, 2008
