The gruesome scene of a dead dolphin on a New Jersey beach has sparked an investigation into the cause of its death.
The marine animal was seen on February 19, while lying on the sands of Avalon bleeding from its eye and with a gaping hole across its mouth.
Locals have claimed that an offshore wind company’s sonar for mapping the seabed is to blame, as it has been suggested that the technology disrupts the animals’ movements, sending them onto ships or onto shore.
Evidence has shown that when exposed to high sonar frequencies, marine mammals swim hundreds of miles and rapidly change depth, which can cause bleeding in the eyes and ears.
Ship tracking data showed that a ship equipped with the technology was off the coast of New Jersey at the time of the dolphin’s death.
But experts told DailyMail.com that “evidence of sonar trauma is not something that can be found in an external examination.”
The gruesome scene of a dead dolphin on a New Jersey beach has sparked an investigation into the cause of its death
Bonnie Brady, executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, told DailyMail.com that the marine animal was a short-beaked common dolphin, which can be found along the continental slope in waters between 650 and 6,500 feet. deep.
He noted that it is very rare for this type of dolphin to be found near the beach.
Jamie Steiert, an Avalon local, saw the dead dolphin on the beach.
“The New Jersey conservation officer picked him up while I was there and said he would meet with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center,” Steiert told DailyMail.com.
‘I have heard that they are already saying that the dolphin was scavenged. We have constantly asked for proof that there is no hearing damage, but we are always excluded.’
The only way to determine if a marine animal died due to sonar is to perform a necropsy and analyze the ear bone for damage.
The marine animal was seen on February 19, while lying on the sands of Avalon bleeding from its eye and with a gaping hole across its mouth.
Locals have claimed that an offshore wind company’s sonar for mapping the seabed is to blame, as it has been suggested that the technology disrupts the animals’ movements, sending them onto ships or onto shore.
The Mexican-owned HOS Browning vessel was identified off the coast of New Jersey four days before the dolphin was found on the beach.
A dolphin’s ears are located in the lower jaw area, but it is unclear if the hole is in the exact location.
Steiert said the eye appeared to be missing, but the blood coming out of the hole was fresh.
‘I was especially curious about the bleeding area next to the lower jaw. “I wonder if she wasn’t bleeding when she showed up and then maybe something tried to rummage through the trash,” Steiert said.
‘YO I can tell you that when I arrived at the beach on 75th Street there was no one around except a police officer sitting in the car…and not a sign of any seagulls or other birds in the area.’
Justin Viezbicke, stranding coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told DailyMail.com: “When carcasses float or sit on the beach, they are typically fed by birds and the circular hole you see, as well as the bloody eye.” The socket is most likely the result of a bird eating the eye and pecking at the lower jaw.
Footage of the dolphin was shared online, catching the attention of many New Jerseyans, with one posting on
Gary Kellstrom also shared: ‘This is not normal, but it happens frequently. This sonar attack must be stopped.
‘Historically, projects that put endangered species at risk have been blocked by lawsuits. What do we need to do to organize legal action to stop these atrocities?
The Mexican-owned HOS Browning vessel was identified off the coast of New Jersey four days before the dolphin was found on the beach.
HOS is working with Fugro, a Dutch company that performs geotechnical, surveying and geoscientific services.
The US Department of Homeland Security documents also note: ‘HOS Browning, call sign XCBK8, will conduct geotechnical survey operations, utilizing a mobilized vibration system.
“Operations will be conducted within lease area 0541 and have been ongoing since 2022 and will continue until approximately June 30, 2024,” according to survey documents. Lease 0541 is located 27 miles offshore and covers 79,351 acres of water.
Images of the dolphin were shared online, catching the attention of many New Jerseyans.
Fugro is performing a third year of integrated site characterization services for Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and is using HOS to survey the ocean floor.
“They’re doing geophysical vibration, which consists of several sonars, some of them seismic in nature,” Brady said.
The US Department of Homeland Security documents also note: ‘HOS Browning, call sign XCBK8, will conduct geotechnical survey operations, utilizing a mobilized vibration system.
“Operations will be conducted within lease area 0541 and have been ongoing since 2022 and will continue until approximately June 30, 2024.”
Lease 0541 is located 27 miles offshore and covers 79,351 acres of water.
The site is east of Atlantic City, which is just 36 miles from Avalon, where the dolphin was found on the beach.
However, it is unclear if the sonar blast affected the dolphin in any way.