New Jersey

Whale watchers get rare look at blue whale off New Jersey coast

Published

6 days ago

September 20, 2024

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Whale watchers get rare look at blue whale off New Jersey coast

It was something they never expected to see: the largest mammal in the world swimming off the coast of New Jersey.

Last weekend, about 50 passengers and crew aboard the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center vessel American Star got a view of a blue whale.

Such a sighting off the coast of New Jersey is rare, according to marine experts.

“The blue whale was a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife opportunity for everyone on board. We have a team of marine mammal and pelagic bird experts with many years of experience logging hundreds of pelagic trips that have never seen a blue whale in the Atlantic before this trip,” said Melissa Laurino, research director for the center.

Andrea Gomez, a spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said also confirmed the sighting was a blue whale.

According to NOAA, the blue whale was most likely from the Western Northern Atlantic Stock, which ranges from the Artic to at least the mid-latitude waters. Little is known about the population size of this stock but 402 of them were documented by photographs between 1980 and 2008.

This stock of blue whales though are most frequently sighted in the waters off eastern Canada, with the majority of records from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In 2008, NOAA confirmed three sightings of blue whales south of Montauk Point, New York.

More: What is this bug-eyed fish showing up in Jersey Shore waters? Biologists have an answer

This stock of blue whales can grow to 90 feet and weigh over 100,000 pounds. The stock of blue whales found near the Antarctic grow bigger, up to 110 feet and over 330,000 pounds. Their hearts are the size of a small car.

There she blows

Laurino said they saw the blue whale on a 24-hour trip about 50 to 60 miles offshore of Cape May. They were in an area of 200 feet of water when they saw a tall white blow spout shoot upwards from a mile away. When they got within range they saw that is was a blue whale.

She said they were 100% certain they were observing a blue whale because of its massive size, small dorsal fin three-quarters of the way down its body, mottled skin and aquamarine coloration under the water.

She said the whale was by itself, which she said is not unusual for baleen whales here. The whale surfaced before it eventually dove deep and did not return.

More: NJ divers find shipwreck 168 years after hit-and-run plunged passengers to murky seafloor

“We observed the animal for one surfacing sequence, about 10-15 minutes, we waited 25 minutes for it to resurface and when it did not, we safely left the area,” Laurino said.

Laurino said that was their first documentation of a blue whale on the American Star. They are on the water about 200 days out of the year and collect data on all of their whale and dolphin watches.

“Blue whales exist in the Atlantic, and have been documented via aerial surveys and acoustic buoys, but this is an extremely rare observation. These pelagic trips are an invaluable opportunity for our research to learn more about the dynamic ecosystem off New Jersey,” Laurino said.

The blue whale was not the only marine life passengers saw on the trip. Laurino said they observed about 20 fin whales, pilot whales, several dolphin species, a manta ray that breached the surface and a variety of sea-going birds.

When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.

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New Jersey

New Jersey hits pause on an offshore wind farm that can't find turbine blades

Published

4 hours ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey hits pause on an offshore wind farm that can't find turbine blades

New Jersey hit the pause button Wednesday on an offshore wind energy project that is having a hard time finding someone to manufacture blades for its turbines.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities granted Leading Light Wind a pause on its project through Dec. 20 while its developers seek a source for the crucial components.

The project, from Chicago-based Invenergy and New York-based energyRE, would be built 40 miles (65 kilometers) off Long Beach Island and would consist of up to 100 turbines, enough to power 1 million homes.

Leading Light was one of two projects that the state utilities board chose in January. But just three weeks after that approval, one of three major turbine manufacturers, GE Vernova, said it would not announce the kind of turbine Invenergy planned to use in the Leading Light Project, according to the filing with the utilities board.

A turbine made by manufacturer Vestas was deemed unsuitable for the project, and the lone remaining manufacturer, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, told Invenergy in June that it was substantially increasing the cost of its turbine offering, Invenergy said.

That left the project without a turbine supplier.

“The stay enables continued discussions with the BPU and supply chain partners regarding the industry-wide market shifts,” Invenergy said in a statement. “We will continue to advance project development activities during this time.”

Christine Guhl-Sadovy, president of the utilities board, said the delay will help the project move forward.

“We are committed in New Jersey to our offshore wind goals,” she said. “This action will allow Invenergy to find a suitable wind turbine supplier. We look forward to delivering on the project that will help grow our clean energy workforce and contribute to clean energy generation for the state.”

The delay was the latest setback for offshore wind in New Jersey. The industry is advancing in fits and starts along the U.S. East Coast.

Nearly a year ago, Danish wind energy giant Orsted scrapped two offshore wind farms planned off New Jersey’s coast, saying they were no longer financially feasible.

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New Jersey

Observations from the Washington Capitals’ 5-3 preseason victory against the New Jersey Devils

Published

15 hours ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

Observations from the Washington Capitals’ 5-3 preseason victory against the New Jersey Devils

📸: Alan Dobbins/RMNB

The Washington Capitals are in the win column for the first time during the 2024 preseason after a 5-3 road win over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night. The Capitals secured the victory despite New Jersey icing most of their NHL regulars in preparation for an early start to their regular season overseas.

Dylan Strome and Brandon Duhaime finished with two markers apiece, and John Carlson added one more to make five for the good guys. Logan Thompson played the entire game in net.

The win featured Alex Ovechkin’s preseason debut, and the team’s captain looked good in his first game action. Ovechkin, Strome, and Andrew Mangiapane, their new running mate, combined for three points (2g, 1a). The Great Eight did not record a shot on goal, though, and received the fifth-least ice time (14:25) on the team.
Spencer Carbery mentioned pregame that Jakub Vrana needed to have a strong game, and the Czech winger delivered. Vrana found the scoresheet with an assist, and his play along the walls and cycling of possession in the offensive zone was impressive. Washington was at its best five-on-five with Vrana on the ice, seeing positive differentials in shot attempts (+12) and scoring chances (+8).
Nic Dowd got his first run out with his new wingers, and the line immediately struck for Duhaime’s two goals. The Capitals want more offense from that trio this season and early indications look like that will be entirely possible. Dowd, Duhaime, and Taylor Raddysh combined for five points (2g, 3a).
Washington’s new top defense pairing, Jakob Chychrun and John Carlson, saw their first ice time together against live opposition. Both players skated over 23 minutes and seemed to grow into the game well. The two offensive blueliners combined for two points (1g, 1a), six shots on goal, 12 individual shot attempts, and four individual scoring chances.
Logan Thompson stopped every single puck he actually saw in his first start of the season. Thompson made 25 stops and was only beaten by a deflection and two wristers from the point that made their way through several bodies in front of the net.
The Capitals really took it to the Devils at five-on-five despite taking on a lot of New Jersey’s top talent. They finished the night with advantages in shot attempts (+7), scoring chances (+13), and high-danger chances (+7). The only downside was they got zero power play practice time with Ovechkin in their lineup, as the only penalties called in the game were against the Capitals.

The Capitals will be back on the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex bright and early Thursday, beginning with Group A practice at 9 am. Their next preseason action comes against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday at Capital One Arena.

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New Jersey

New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals FREE LIVE STREAM (9/25/24): Watch NHL preseason online | Time, TV, channel

Published

1 day ago

September 25, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals FREE LIVE STREAM (9/25/24): Watch NHL preseason online | Time, TV, channel

The New Jersey Devils face the Washington Capitals in an NHL preseason season game at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 (9/25/24).

Fans can watch the match for free via a trial of fuboTV or DirecTV Stream.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: NHL preseason

Who: Washington Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils

When: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 (9/25/24)

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Where: Prudential Center

TV: NHL Network

Live stream: fuboTV and DirecTV Stream

Here’s a recent AP NHL story:

John Tortorella had a former hockey coach help him Monday at Philadelphia Flyers training camp — the father of the late John and Matthew Gaudreau, who was an invited guest.

The Flyers tapped their sticks in appreciation of Guy Gaudreau, a former hockey coach at Hollydell Ice Arena and Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey, when he hit the ice to assist with drills during practice. The Flyers shook Gaudreau’s hand at the end of the skate in appreciation and thanked him for helping out.

“He was hesitant at first, and we kind of let him go at his timetable,” Tortorella said. “I think it worked out really well today. I gave him my camp book. We’re going to check in next week and see if we can get him out here a couple more times and have him be part of it. I don’t want it to be, ‘Just come out here.’ I want him to be part of it. I think it will be therapeutic for him to be around us and run some drills.”

Tortorella said he had never met Gaudreau, a former hockey player and coach who raised his family nearby, until Monday’s practice in New Jersey. Tortorella said Gaudreau had an open invitation to return and help the Flyers at any point.

“I never met Johnny and Matt in my travels as coach,” Tortorella told reporters at the Flyers’ complex in Voorhees. “But their family’s here. Horrific situation going on. He’s a coach. He’s done some great work with some of the youth out here. I figured it’s perfect just to get him in with us.”

Tortorella joked that Gaudreau was giving him a hard time for yelling at players to skate harder during practice.

“A lot of people know him in the organization because of his reputation,” Tortorella said.

Tortorella attended the brothers’ funeral last month in a Philadelphia suburb.

“I thought the two wives were so strong in how they handled themselves,” Tortorella said. “No one can imagine. No one can. I’m hoping to get to know the family. I think a number of coaches want to get to know the family, the girls, Matt’s family. It’s just horrible what happened. It’s still pretty fresh. It’s here. It’s with us. Down the street. We just want to be part of it and try and help.”

John Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, wrote on social media how much Tortorella’s gesture meant to the family.

“John & Matty would love this. They’re both so proud of their dad, I know this made them smile as they watched down from heaven,” she wrote, adding a heart emoji.

John Gaudreau, the Columbus Blue Jackets star, and his brother, Matthew, were killed on Aug. 29 when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bicycles on a rural road in South Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding. The driver who police say struck them is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.

John Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played 10 full seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million deal in 2022. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, a tenure that included becoming one of the sport’s top players and a fan favorite across North America.

“We don’t want it to be an everyday story,” Tortorella said. “We just want to help. To be in a locker room, coach to coach, player to coach, guys talking to him, I just hope it helps a little bit.”

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