New Jersey
Whale watchers get rare look at blue whale off New Jersey coast
What to do if you encounter a stranded marine mammal
If you discover a stranded marine mammal along the Jersey Shore, contaqct the Marine Mammal stranding center at 609-266-0538.
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.
New Jersey
Sherrill, Ciattarelli make their final push for votes in the race for New Jersey governor
WEST NEW YORK, New Jersey (WABC) — It is down to the wire in the race to become the next governor of New Jersey.
Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill campaigned in West New York on Sunday, shoring up support with Latinos.
“We have seen a great deal of enthusiasm across the state. It’s been really exciting, including events like this,” Sherrill said.
Some of that enthusiasm emanated from a major rally Saturday night with former President Barack Obama in Newark.
“The numbers in the vote by males in early voting look very, very good. And, you know, having President Obama here last night was kind of icing on the cake,” she said.
Turnout has been overwhelming. Between in-person early voting and mail-in ballots, nearly 1.2 million New Jerseyans have already cast their vote.
“At the end of the day, it’s all decided by the end of 8:00 on Tuesday. But we really like the numbers we see with regard to the VBS vote by mail ballots and the early voting,” Jack Ciattarelli, Republican Candidate NJ Governor, said.
Ciattarelli was joined by Congressman Mike Lawler in Middletown speaking with voters on Sunday.
“People are upset over eight years of Phil Murphy’s failed policies and the very strong impression that my opponent would just be more of the same, only worse,” Ciattarelli said.
He is also criss-crossing the state in a final push for votes.
“I hope the Democrats continue to make the same mistake over the next two days. They’ve been making for the past four months, talking all about Trump and blaming everything on Trump. The people in New Jersey are smarter than that. They want solutions. And that’s exactly what we’ve been giving them every day on the trail,” he argued.
Early voting is over. Polls open at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Election Day.
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New Jersey
New Jersey governor’s race: Jack Ciattarelli votes early; Mikie Sherrill to campaign with Obama
NEW JERSEY (WABC) — Democrat Mikie Sherrill is preparing for a campaign blitz this weekend and Republican Jack Ciattarelli cast his vote in the New Jersey gubernatorial election on Friday.
The energy was high and so was the optimism for Ciattarelli who voted early in Bridgewater. He has shifted to a full court press of campaigning over the next four days until Election Day.
“We try to touch four counties every day, there’s eight stops today, we’ve got rallies all throughout the state, reminding people that we’re still in the midst of early voting,” Ciattarelli said. “Two more days after today and reminding people to don’t wait till Tuesday. Anything can happen.”
Turnout is high for early voting and mail-in ballots as nearly one million New Jerseyans have already voted.
“I am a strong law and order, yet compassion for our citizens. I think we could do both with Jack,” voter Claudia Levin Bateman said.
“New Jerseyans are fed up, paying high electrical bills, paying taxes, fees, tolls, everything keeps going up. Our government’s a mess. We need to sort of rally to come in and save New Jersey,” voter Phillipe Pedroso said.
This is the second most expensive gubernatorial race in the state’s history.
Sherrill’s campaign has edged out Ciattarelli in fundraising — $51 million to $47 million.
That is mirrored by campaign spending. Sherrill has spent $43 million and Ciattarelli has spent $39.7 million.
“I feel great, I only have ’21 to compare it to, I really thought I was going to win that race,” Ciattarelli said. “You know how close we came? This one feels very different. Energy up and down. The state is electric. The reception in the minority communities across states been overwhelming positive.”
Sherrill has also been on the campaign trail all week and former President Barack Obama will headline a rally for her Saturday in Newark.
“To me, centering a campaign and what you are hearing on the ground, cutting out the noise sometimes from what’s going on online or elsewhere, but really centering on the very people that you want to serve is incredibly important and I think incredibly successful,” Sherrill said.
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