Murphy DEP Misleading The Public About The Declining Health Of The Ocean
Annual Shore Tourism Public Relations Campaign Is Based On Lies By Omission
The ocean is in very, very bad shape.
A range of severe and unprecedented problems – from record high water temperatures, to increasing acidification, to over-fishing, to toxic chemical and nutrient overloads – threaten the collapse of ocean ecosystems.
For the latest science see, e.g. NOAA’s Climate Program Office.
None of that science was even mentioned in the Murphy DEP’s shameless shore tourism promotion.
You would never know about any of that based on reading the Murphy DEP’s annual Memorial Day shore tourism event, see:
Lies come in two forms: omission and commission. Intentionally withholding material facts with the intent to mislead is a lie. DEP is lying to the public by presenting only the “good news”.
And you would never know that based on the lame and corrupted “advocacy” efforts of shore focused environmental groups, including Clean Ocean Action, American Littoral Society, and Save Barnegat Bay Partnership.
Those groups have one important thing in common: they receive DEP grant money, see:
They all sold out their mission long ago in exchange for the DEP grant money.
It’s called “co-optation”.
So, as you get outside over the Memorial Day Weekend, please think about the health of the ocean.
I just wrote to Murphy DEP Commissioner Latourette and asked him to stop the “good news” spin, see:
———- Original Message ———-
From: Bill WOLFE
To: “shawn.latourette@dep.nj.gov” <shawn.latourette@dep.nj.gov>
Cc: Benson Chiles <bensonchiles@gmail.com>, “zipf@cleanoceanaction.org” <zipf@cleanoceanaction.org>, “tim@littoralsociety.org” <tim@littoralsociety.org>, senbsmith <SenBSmith@njleg.org>, sengreenstein <sengreenstein@njleg.org>, “senmckeon@njleg.org” <senmckeon@njleg.org>, “wparry@ap.org” <wparry@ap.org>, “fkummer@inquirer.com” <fkummer@inquirer.com>, “ferencem@njspotlightnews.org” <ferencem@njspotlightnews.org>, “jonhurdle@gmail.com” <jonhurdle@gmail.com>
Date: 05/23/2024 4:34 PM EDT
Subject: State of the ocean
Dear Commissioner LaTourette:
Today, the Department released the annual Memorial Day tourism promotion, see:
https://nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2024/24_0020.htm
Once again, the Department misled the public about the health of the ocean, by focusing exclusively on a scientifically invalid indicator: bacteria, and single human use of the ocean and shoreline: swimming and beaches.
I take strong issue with the omissions of science regarding the real ecological health of the ocean.
The tourism promotional event provides a teachable moment. See NASA’s SOTO:
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/technology/state-ocean-soto
So, we look forward to an honest press release that mentions, among other things, record high ocean temperatures, acidification, overfishing, fish and shellfish consumption advisories, ecological collapse, and NOAA’s projected 85% likelihood of a more intensive Hurricane season.
And what ever became of the Coastal and Ocean Protection Council established by the legislature as an “in but not of” DEP Council? I wrote the bill for Senator Smith and it was signed into law as P.L. 2007, CHAPTER 288, approved January 13, 2008, see:
- What Ever Happened To The NJ Coastal And Ocean Protection Council?
http://www.wolfenotes.com/2021/11/what-ever-happened-to-the-nj-coastal-and-ocean-protection-council/
Wolfe
c: Chairman Smith