Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind Sponsors The Wetlands Institute Project to Rescue Stranded Horseshoe Crabs
Stone Harbor, NJ – The Wetlands Institute (TWI) and Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind (Ørsted) are pleased to announce a partnership to execute this year’s “ReTURN the Favor NJ” project, an annual campaign that is implemented by TWI and partnership organizations to support recovery of the state’s horseshoe crab population.
Each spring horseshoe crabs come to area beaches to lay eggs but are often turned upside down by waves or entrapped in manmade hazards, making them immobile and vulnerable to gulls and other predators, or drying out. The ReTURN the Favor program trains volunteers to free stranded horseshoe crabs so they can return to the sea or lay eggs, which not only benefits the crab population but also the migratory shorebirds who feed on their eggs, and people that rely on a compound found in horseshoe crab blood that is vital to the pharmaceutical industry.
“The reTURN the Favor program is are remarkable program that shows the power of community-based conservation,” said Dr. Lenore Tedesco, executive director of The Wetlands Institute. “Support from Ørsted will enable us to continue this vital work and enable Wetlands Institute staff to coordinate the program, train volunteers, and examine program outcomes. Working with Ørsted is a wonderful way to have corporate partners participate in this impactful program.”
Horseshoe crabs become sexually mature after about ten years and their “life in the slow lane” makes conservation difficult. The program has had a remarkable impact by returning breeding age crabs to the population, and identifying areas to improve their habitat on the Delaware Bay.
“The Wetlands Institute is doing very important local work that we are proud to support,” said Thomas Brostrøm, CEO of Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind and President of Ørsted North America. “As a company dedicated to the creation of green energy, environmental stewardship is key to our mission.”
About The Wetlands Institute
The Wetlands Institute of Stone Harbor, NJ, promotes appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of coastal and wetland ecosystems through programs in research, conservation, and education. The Wetlands Institute provides a fun and interactive educational experience for families, school groups and vacationers of all ages through nature exploration and discovery. Our goal is to inspire communities so they in turn become stewards of our coastal and wetland ecosystem. https://wetlandsinstitute.org/
About ReTURN the Favor New Jersey
ReTURN the Favor is a state-sanctioned collaborative effort that enables organized volunteer groups to save horseshoe crabs stranded on New Jersey’s seasonally closed and open beaches. http://returnthefavornj.org/
About Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind
Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind delivers clean, renewable energy along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. The company operates Block Island Wind Farm, America’s first offshore wind farm, and has a comprehensive geographic coverage with the largest pipeline of development capacity, totaling over 8GW in seven states. It is jointly headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island and employs over 75 people.
About Ørsted
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted develops, constructs and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, bioenergy plants and innovative waste-to-energy solutions and provides smart energy products to its customers. Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted employs 6,080 people. Ørsted’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2018, the group’s revenue was DKK 76.9 billion (EUR 10.7 billion). For more information on Ørsted, visit orsted.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.
For further information please contact:
Media Relations
Lauren Burm
617 309 8730
Head of Public Affairs and Communications, North America, Ørsted
laubu@orsted.com