Francine Kershaw

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Articles

Op-ed: New York's offshore wind sector must protect wildlife as it grows

Jul 18, 2024 | crainsnewyork.com | Francine Kershaw

Imagine a leviathan feeding frenzy. Grandstanding humpback whales, sleek fin whales, and side-lunging minke whales all vying for the large schools of Atlantic menhaden that are being sighted more and more in the waters off New York and New Jersey. In fact, the New York City area has become a true hotspot for feeding whales in the spring and summer months. But with the region’s rise in popularity comes increased conflict with humans.
California’s Entanglement Regulations: The Stronger the Better

May 16, 2024 | nrdc.org | Francine Kershaw

California’s ocean is renowned for its stunningly diverse marine life. Majestic whales and sea turtles are regular visitors, stopping just off the state’s coast to feed and socialize during their migrations. Several of these visitors—blue whales, some humpback whale populations, and Pacific leatherback sea turtles, for example—are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, making it all the more important that we protect them during their long journeys.
California Voice: Funding for anti-entanglement fishing gear helps industry and marine life

Apr 13, 2024 | marinij.com | Francine Kershaw

If the whales and sea turtles off our California coast could speak, they would be singing the praises of our state’s Ocean Protection Council. The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) has approved over $1.8 million in state funding to help reduce the risk of whale and sea turtle entanglement in gear used by our state’s fisheries.
Opinion: California funding for anti-entanglement fishing gear helps industry and marine life

Apr 9, 2024 | mercurynews.com | Francine Kershaw

If the whales and sea turtles off our California coast could speak, they would be singing the praises of our state’s Ocean Protection Council. Warming ocean temperatures are changing the location of many marine animals’ feeding areas and migratory routes, increasing their overlap with fishing areas and exacerbating the risk of fishing gear entangling vulnerable species like humpback whales.
Smart Siting of Offshore Wind Protects Right Whales in Gulf of Maine

Mar 31, 2024 | cleantechnica.com | Francine Kershaw

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News! The Biden Administration is advancing offshore wind in areas of the Gulf of Maine that pose a lower risk to endangered North Atlantic right whales. Protections for endangered North Atlantic right whales are an essential component of responsible offshore wind development.
Smart Siting of Offshore Wind Protects Right Whales in Gulf of Maine

Mar 29, 2024 | nrdc.org | Francine Kershaw

The Final Wind Energy Area (WEA) identified for potential offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine is largely located away from habitats of higher importance to endangered North Atlantic right whales. This smart siting decision will help the industry advance responsibly in this new offshore wind region. We need offshore wind, and we need to do it right. This kind of clean energy will help eliminate dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and create thousands of well-paying sustainable jobs.
Right Whale Calf Succumbs to Vessel Strike Injuries

Mar 15, 2024 | nrdc.org | Francine Kershaw

The body of Juno’s calf was found stranded on Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia on March 3rd. Experts examined the calf the following day and found that the multiple lacerations observed on the calf’s head caused by a vessel’s propeller when the calf was struck had penetrated into deep soft tissues and bone, leading to multiple sites of tissue death.
California Funds Major Expansion of Pop-Up Fishing Gear Library

Feb 29, 2024 | nrdc.org | Francine Kershaw

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) has approved up to $1.825 million dollars in state funding to support activities that reduce the risk of whale and sea turtle entanglements in fishing gear associated with California fisheries. Of this amount, OPC approved up to $450,000 to expand the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s pop-up fishing gear library.
State Funding Urgently Needed to Support Pop-Up Testing in California

Feb 26, 2024 | nrdc.org | Francine Kershaw

Something momentous is happening in California. Interest from fishers in testing pop-up fishing gear to reduce the risk of whale and sea turtle entanglements is now outweighing the resources available to provide them with access to the technology.
Dead Right Whale Confirmed Entangled in Maine Fishing Gear

Feb 14, 2024 | nrdc.org | Francine Kershaw

For years, some representatives of the Maine lobster industry have claimed that its gear has never been linked to a recent death of an endangered North Atlantic right whale. That claim has always been specious and at odds with scientific understanding. It is now clear right whales can and do get entangled in fishing gear in Maine waters. On the afternoon of January 28, 2024, NOAA Fisheries was notified of a deceased female right whale near Joseph Sylvia State Beach on Martha’s Vineyard.