Five Fishing Groups Join in Lawsuit to Block Seismic Testing off New Jersey Coast
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Courier-Post] - July 2, 2015 -
POINT PLEASANT BEACH – Five fishing groups asked a federal court to stop scientists from blasting the ocean floor with sound waves, arguing their research is disturbing marine life off the New Jersey coast by exposing animals to noise comparable to a space shuttle launch or a nuclear bomb.
The lawsuit filed Friday seeks a halt to the program being carried out by Rutgers University, the University of Texas and the National Science Foundation.
The project uses sound waves to study sediment on the ocean floor dating back 60 million years to see how sea level rise has changed the coastline.
“It shows the arrogance of scientists,” said Tom Foote, an official with the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, one of the groups that brought the lawsuit. “There’s no need to do it this time of year, but because it’s convenient for them, they’re doing it when the fish are here.
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