There is no doubt that we are seeing an alarming number of whales washing up dead on the beaches from New England to Virginia. Some of our more brilliant non-scientists have immediately placed the blame for these deaths on the low-frequency sounds emitted by wind energy companies as they explore the bottom of the ocean looking for suitable locations to place transmission cables.
Another group of non-scientists has concluded that the whales have been attracted to this area by large numbers of menhaden, and since the whales are in the shipping lanes, they have been struct by oil tankers carrying crude oil to East Coast refineries.
It should come as no surprise that the non-scientists blaming the windmills don’t believe in renewable energy, at least if that means windmills off the coast within sight of land. Those who blame the oil tankers don’t believe in fossil fuels as a long-term energy source.
As for me, I think I’ll wait until the real scientists complete their reports from the results of the necropsies. So far, I have only heard one report. It concluded that the whale was struck by a ship, but it could not be determined if that happened before or after the animal was dead.
This brings us to the idea of a reduced speed limit of 10 knots in the ocean for boats greater than 35 feet in length. The proposal to make that the speed limit for the entire ocean was turned down by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Coast Guard. Both agencies concluded this regulation would be impossible to enforce. However, there are still small areas that do have the 10-knot speed limit when the presence of right whales is detected. These areas are posted on Notice to Mariners.
Now, no one has ever accused me of being the brightest beacon on the beach, but even I can see the time of fossil fuels is over. We are entering the time of renewable energy, and that will include wind and solar. It will also include electric cars, trucks and boats.
Right now, everything is in its infancy. When I went to work for IBM in 1966, Univac had a computer in the basement of the DuPont Building in Wilmington. Including the cooling system, it took up an entire city block. The IBM tape decks were on another floor, and the keypunch operation was yet on another floor. Today, your cellphone has more power than that entire operation.
My grandfather was born in 1896. His first car was a horse. Yet, he lived to see a man walk on the moon. Today, there are plans to put people on Mars.
Technology has created climate change, and now new technology will get us out of this disaster before it’s too late. While I am sad that my grandson will never have the thrill of driving a 1967 GTO or a 1969 Dodge Charger 440 as I did, at least he won’t choke to death on foul air or drown in rising sea water.
State parks fees begin March 1
Beginning Wednesday, March 1, all Delaware State Parks will begin charging entrance fees. Inland parks will charge $4 for cars registered in Delaware, while cars registered in all other states will pay $8. At ocean parks, Delaware cars must pay $5, while out-of-state cars will pay $10.
When you consider what you get for your $5 or $8, it is truly a bargain. All of the parks, from Brandywine State Park in New Castle County to Cape Henlopen State Park here in Sussex County, offer unique opportunities for families and individuals to spend a day enjoying the outdoors.
Those of us who purchase a surf-fishing permit also gain entrance to all the state parks. I enjoy this privilege when I visit Brandywine State Park during trout season and Fox Point State Park just to watch the big ships pass by.
You may also purchase an annual pass for the state parks. These come in several types including resident, nonresident, active-duty military and veterans.
To purchase an annual pass or surf-fishing permit online, go to destateparks.com/Know/PassesTagsFees.
Fishing report
If you enjoy catching white and yellow perch, this is the time of year to get out on the water. All the tidal creeks and rivers in the area, including the Broadkill and Nanticoke rivers, are producing well. Bloodworms and live minnows are the prime baits, with shad darts also finding favor with some anglers.
In the ocean, tog into double digits have been caught on days when boats can sail. At this time, the only charter and head boats still running are out of Ocean City, Md.
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Eric Burnley is a Delaware native who has fished and hunted the state from an early age. Since 1978 he has written countless articles about hunting and fishing in Delaware and elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast. He has been the regional editor for several publications and was the founding editor of the Mid-Atlantic Fisherman magazine. Eric is the author of three books: Surf Fishing the Atlantic Coast, The Ultimate Guide to Striped Bass Fishing and Fishing Saltwater Baits. He and his wife Barbara live near Milton, Delaware. Eric can be reached at Eburnle@aol.com.
