Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

The waters off the eastern seaboard of the United States have become a graveyard for whales. Over the past few years, an alarming uptick in whale strandings and deaths has cast a shadow over one of the world’s most ambitious alternative energy initiatives: offshore wind development.

Troubling Spike in Whale Deaths

Since 2016, more than 232 humpback whales have died along the U.S. Atlantic coast, with a notable surge occurring over the past three years. The North Atlantic right whale – already teetering on the brink of extinction with fewer than 350 individuals remaining – could disappear as a species. As sentinels of ocean health, these creatures’ deaths should not be dismissed as mere coincidence.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has declared whale deaths as part of an “Unusual Mortality Event,” a designation meant to trigger serious investigations. However, the agency has been disturbingly ambiguous in addressing possible connections to offshore wind activities, which include the use of sonar, pile-driving and the operation of wind turbines.

One of the least understood but potentially devastating impacts of wind projects comes from high-intensity sonar. Marine surveys rely on sonar pulses that can travel long distances underwater, disrupting the communication and navigation systems of mammals. Whales, which depend on echolocation to find food, avoid predators, and communicate with their pods, are particularly susceptible to acoustic interference.

Appeal to Ignorance and License to Kill

Possibly, NOAA has fallen to the fallacy of “appeal to ignorance,” also known as an argument from ignorance. This is where a thing is believed to be true because of insufficient knowledge about the subject.

However, this excuse for the agency’s appalling attitude toward whale mortality is inconsistent with NOAA’s regulatory acknowledgment of possible harm. Multiple Incidental Take Authorizations have been issued by the agency, allowing a certain number of whale deaths during the operations of wind projects.

An “incidental take” license is, by its very nature, an admission of potential harm. The licenses effectively provide legal immunity to developers while tacitly acknowledging that their activities pose measurable risks to marine life. As an agency historically committed to marine conservation, NOAA has abandoned its core mission.

Enforcement Double Standard

NOAA appears to be bending rules for an ideological “green” agenda and aligned corporate interests, greenlighting the harassment of animals and contradicting the principles of the Marine Mammal Protection Act – landmark legislation to safeguard ocean life from industrial encroachment.

While governmental agencies are quick to require stringent environmental reviews of fossil fuel projects, the approach to offshore wind has been notably lax. This double standard raises questions about whether political expediency is overriding ecological prudence.

The scientific evidence connecting offshore wind projects and whale deaths is murky. Until a link is conclusively disproven or understood, halting the implementation of offshore wind installations is not just prudent; it is imperative.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he would end offshore wind upon assuming office. Short of that, a moratorium should be declared until scientific uncertainties are resolved.

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Vijay Jayaraj

Vijay Jayaraj is a research associate at the CO2 Coalition, Arlington, Va., and holds a master's degree in environmental sciences from the University of East Anglia, U.K.He resides in Bengaluru, India.

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