8 Dolphins Dead After 'Mass Stranding Event' At Jersey Shore

Eight Common dolphins stranded at Sea Isle City on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

SEA ISLE CITY, NJ — After a "mass stranding event" of beached dolphins in Sea Isle City on Tuesday afternoon, all eight have died, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

A pod of eight Common dolphins stranded on the beach, with two already dead as of shortly after 1 p.m., the Center announced on Facebook.

"The remaining six dolphins were assessed by our veterinarian and their conditions were rapidly deteriorating," the Center wrote in an update at 3:20 p.m. The decision was made to humanely euthanize them, as returning them to the ocean would prolong their "inevitable death," they said.

All were taken to the NJ State Lab for immediate necropsies.

"We share in the public's sorrow for these beautiful animals, and hope that the necropsies will help us understand the reason for their stranding," the Center said.

The dolphins washed up on the 50th and 52 Street beaches, according to Sea Isle City officials.

They were found some time before 11 a.m. on March 21, according to a report by 6abc News.

NBC10 Philadelphia reported that people were throwing buckets of water onto the dolphins, who were seen moving as they were being cared for.

These dolphins are the latest in a string of marine mammal deaths at the Jersey Shore. Just last week, two dolphins washed up further north in Middletown. 

Many believe that sonar activities by offshore wind companies are the cause of the marine mammal deaths.

However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Environmental Protection have denied these claims, citing a lack of evidence.

Since 2016, NOAA has been tracking a growing number of whale deaths, which pre-dates offshore wind activity in the area.

"At this point, there is no evidence to support speculation that noise resulting from wind development-related site characterization surveys could potentially cause mortality of whales," NOAA officials said.

The DEP released a statement the day prior to an offshore wind Congressional hearing in Wildwood hosted by Rep. Jeff Van Drew and Rep. Chris Smith, saying that they were investigating whale deaths in New Jersey.

"As of March 2023, no offshore wind-related construction activities have taken place in waters off the New Jersey coast," the DEP statement said, "and DEP is aware of no credible evidence that offshore wind-related survey activities could cause whale mortality." Read more: NJ Whale Deaths Explained By DEP

Experts at the Wildwood hearing said that the harm to marine life was one of many factors as to why offshore wind projects should be halted. Read more: Offshore Wind Too Rushed, Unsafe For Jersey Shore, Van Drew Says