Experts Struggling To Figure Out Why More Dolphins Are Dying Along S. Jersey Shore

[The Straight Story]

LONG BEACH ISLAND, N.J. (CBS) — The last couple of weeks have been hard on dolphins at the Jersey shore. Since July 9th, the carcasses of 21 dolphins have washed up, from Monmouth County to Cape May.

One was found Wednesday on the beach in Atlantic City, and another in the waters off Cape May.

All but one were bottlenosed dolphins.

Bob Schoelkopf, of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ, says generally just a few wash up in a normal season.

“This is an unusually high number, and the fact that they’re coming in multiple numbers like this per day indicates a problem out at sea,” Schoelkopf tells KYW Newsradio.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/08/01/experts-struggling-to-figure-out-why-more-dolphins-are-dying-along-s-jersey-shore/

[The Straight Story]

1. Large numbers of dolphins dying in Gulf

Large numbers of dolphins dying in Gulf

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (AP) — An "unusual mortality event" continues for dolphins in the northern Gulf of Mexico, with more than 1,000 dolphins stranded since February 2010, far above the average numbers from 2002 to 2009.

While those deaths resulted from several different causes, officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Alabama Marine Police and other law enforcement agencies are working together to minimize the human impact on dolphin populations in the Gulf.

As part of that effort, the Alabama Marine Police hosted a meeting last week with officials from NOAA, the U.S. Coast Guard, local authorities and about 20 dolphin tour boat captains to discuss the consequences of dolphin interaction.

Feeding a dolphin is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, enforced by NOAA. The act also makes it illegal to harass or injure any marine mammal. Harassment is defined as "any act of pursuit, torment or annoyance to the creatures."

http://www.khou.com/news/national/217958601.html

[FirstLight]

2. wasn't there just a story

about a huge oxygen-depleted zone in the Gulf? ...why couldn't there be a connection?