A healthy ocean is our most valuable natural resource—it is life sustaining, economically vital, and helps combat climate change.  The ocean realm off New Jersey/New York is one of the most diverse in the world for marine mammals and sea turtles which sustain a healthy, vibrant ocean! There are: 
- 33 species of whales, dolphins, and a porpoise (5 endangered and all protected species) 
- 4 species of seals (all protected) 
- 5 species of sea turtles (all endangered and protected)  

Recently, record numbers of whales and other mammals are washing up dead and dying in the region and the cause is unknown.  This coincides with an unprecedented number of permits (11) for conducting offshore pre-construction activities for the proposed massive industrial offshore wind power plants.  The 11 companies have permits to conduct noisy, intense, geotechnical and other survey activities including sonar which is known to cause harm to mammals.  

In fact, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued the 11 companies Incidental Harassment Authorizations which allow harming a total of 63,820 mammals.  Plus, five more offshore wind survey projects are pending which propose to harm an additional 90,000 mammals. While the cause of the grim record of recent deaths is unknown, it’s reasonable to suspect these offshore wind activities may be involved. 
 
Therefore, we the undersigned, believe there is a plausible link between these projects and the whale deaths.  We call on President Biden to: 
   
1.) Direct an immediate and publicly transparent investigation into the offshore wind activities and recent marine mammal deaths, which is overseen by independent qualified scientists to ensure rigorous scientific scrutiny and peer review.

2.) Call for a hard stop on all offshore wind industry pre-construction, in-water development, or construction activities until they are independently cleared of any involvement in marine mammal deaths. 

3.) A comprehensive, scientifically valid robust response plan for future stranded mammals to gather viable and valid information that will reasonably enable scientists to determine potential causes of death in a timely manner to avoid harmful impacts.  

4.) A halt to any new, planned, or pending offshore wind development permitting activities, including new solicitations.