October 18, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 29 . . Critics Fear Impact On Habitat FROM PAGE 28 “With offshore drilling in the Atlantic at least five years away, shooting seismic air guns is an unnecessary insult to marine life and coastal economies,” said Oceana’s Vice President of U.S. Oceans Jacqueline Savitz. “Our message is simple. Do not turn the Atlantic into a blast zone and stop seismic air guns. It is time for the Obama administration to stand up to Big Oil and say no to seismic air gun testing in the Atlantic.” Bankey said National Aquarium officials are concerned about the potential harm to marine life in general, but specifically because the organization and similar marine mammal stranding organizations up and down the coast are currently dealing with a summer-long trend of dolphin mortality linked to a virus. Just last week, three more dead or dying dolphins washed up on the Ocean City coast. “Animals may strand, suffer from hearing loss or lose their ability to capture prey,” she said. “At a time when hundreds of marine mammals have succumbed to a deadly virus, some groups say the additional impact the surveys will have on wildlife is too great.” Proponents of the plan argue the potential to tap vast domestic offshore reserves and the pressure to cut the country’s dependence on foreign energy sources makes the testing worth it, despite the potential harm to marine life. Offshore testing activity was cut short in 2010 in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and, as a result, all offshore drilling for petroleum deposits along the mid-Atlantic coast was halted until 2017. With the calendar to soon flip over to 2014, that once long-away deadline is now approaching, increasing the desire to begin to explore for oil reserves off the coast. Earlier this month, dozens of members of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, including Maryland Senators Barbara Mikulksi and Ben Cardin, fired off letters to BOEM seeking a halt to the survey technique. “Given the decision to prevent dangerous offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean, there is no need to move forward with invasive and harmful seismic air gun testing,” the letter reads. “We urge a reconsideration of plans to allow this testing, which will only hurt our coastal communities and the marine resources that drive our coastal economy.” In addition to the potential ecological impacts, the use of seismic air gun testing off the mid-Atlantic coast has serious economic overtones. Last April, Oceana released a new report highlighting the potential danger to commercial and recreational fisheries as well as tourism and coastal recreation. Oceanfront Dining BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER TEAR THE ROOF OFF Blues/Rock FRIDAY 6 P.M.-9 P.M. FULL BAR BISTRO & BAR Happy Hour MONDAY-FRIDAY 1 P.M.-5 P.M. BRICK OVEN PIZZA Open Year-Round OCTOBER FALL SPECIALS THURSDAYS: BUY 1, GET 1 FREE ... BUY ANY PASTA DISH, GET THE SECOND DISH FREE (Same Or Lower Value) FRIDAYS: 14-OZ. PRIME RIB SERVED WITH BAKED POTATO AND A JUS SAUCE $14.99 (While It Lasts) SUNDAYS: 3-COURSE DINNER MENU $19.99 Specials Are Good Between 5 p.m. And 9 p.m. With This Coupon Or Ad • MCD • Exp. 10-31-13 OPEN EVERY DAY 7 A.M.-10 P.M. • 443-664-6763 12TH ST. & BOARDWALK • 1ST LEVEL IN HOWARD JOHNSON SOLD! 3 “We are a dedicated team of professionals, ready to assist you in your investment. As leaders in resort new construction sales, we offer the very best in service and experience.” Dan Clayland, Project Manager Richie Difillippo Annie Tingle Michelle Pompa Sharon Daugherty Jeff Beres