Ongoing
Activities
Over
the past few years, largely since the previous scoping meetings,
the Sanctuary initiated a number of key projects that merit
elaboration. Activities associated with these projects are summarized
below. Over the same timeframe, Sanctuary staffing increased
from five positions to nine and the budget was increased to
address expanding site needs. This added capacity has contributed
greatly to the work being done.
•
Capital Investments in Infrastructure
• Sanctuary Advisory Council
• Public Outreach
• Water Quality
Monitoring
• Whale
Research
• Whalewatch
Guidelines
• USGS Mapping
Project
• Seafloor
Habitat Recovery Monitoring Program
• Ecology
of Fishes and Seafloor Habitat
• Western
Gulf of Maine Area Closure
• Habitat
Use Assessment
• Submerged
Cultural Resources
• Enforcement
Capital
Investments in Infrastructure
Legislation
passed by Congress in 2001 authorized transfer of Coast Guard
Station Scituate to NOAA to serve as the Sanctuary's headquarters.
These facilities, including the main building, garage, boathouse
and piers, provide space for current and future staff as well
as partnering state and federal agencies working collaboratively
with the site. These partners include the Massachusetts Environmental
Police, the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law
Enforcement, and the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Program.
The Sanctuary recently completed a facility development plan
and is embarking on a $1 million renovation.
Funds
to upgrade and acquire a more capable research vessel are being
sought. The Sanctuary's existing boat, the 30' Hawk, has grown
unreliable, is inadequate for our use, and is in need of replacement.
A call for preliminary proposals for a new boat was issued in
2001, and a potential builder has been identified. Field trials
on a representative boat have been conducted. A naval architect
has been retained to assist with developing final specifications
for the boat and inspection of its construction. NOAA's Office
of Marine and Aircraft Operations will assist in procurement
and provide oversight.
Sanctuary
Advisory Council
Public
involvement in Sanctuary management is vitally important to
the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP). One key to achieve
this involvement is formation of a Sanctuary Advisory Council
(SAC) for each site. A SAC brings together members of a diverse
community to provide advice to the Sanctuary Superintendent
on the management and protection of the Sanctuary. Section 315
of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act authorizes the Secretary
of Commerce to establish SACs. This authority has been delegated
to the Director of the NMSP.
A
revised SAC Charter for the Sanctuary and new membership received
approval by the NMSP Director in 2001. The SAC for the Sanctuary
is composed of a total 21 members, of which 15 seats are public
voting and 6 seats are ex-officio governmental non-voting (Appendix
A.) There are 15 alternate public members. The SAC has public
representation from four states (Connecticut, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire and Maine) and eight Congressional districts.
The SAC is among the largest in the national system and is distinguished
by its multiple state representation. The SAC will be instrumental
in revision of the site's management plan, among other assistance
provided.
Public
Outreach
As
an offshore site, the Sanctuary presents limited direct access
to the general public. Yet, three major portals to the Sanctuary
provide opportunities for expanded outreach and education -
directly by commercial whalewatch vessels and virtually through
visit or exhibits and the Sanctuary website. For example:
•
The New England Aquarium and the Sanctuary entered a partnership
in 2000, in which the Aquarium will host several kiosks in an
outdoor display that highlights Sanctuary resources and management
issues. The Aquarium already offers a 15-minute interactive,
multi-screen video production called "Storm Over Stellwagen"
in its Immersive Theater. The Sanctuary contracted with the
Aquarium to add a 2.5-minute trailer to that production to more
fully describe the national system of marine sanctuaries.
•
The Center for Coastal Studies and the Sanctuary entered a partnership
in 2001, wherein the Center hosts and staffs the Sanctuary's
Provincetown Visitor Exhibit. The exhibit is a high-tech interactive
installation that introduces both the Stellwagen Bank National
Marine Sanctuary and the national marine sanctuary system. It
is open to the public daily during May through October. The
exhibit takes an in-depth look at some of the important resources
and research in the Sanctuary as well as ongoing conservation
efforts. Other uses are being considered to afford year round
benefit to the area's resident population.
•
The International Wildlife Coalition and the Sanctuary teamed
together in 2001 and produced the "See a Spout - Watch
Out" campaign to prevent whale strikes by recreational
boaters in the Sanctuary. In 2001, over 5,000 boaters were trained;
more than 20,000 rack cards and posters and 10,000 decals and
stickers were distributed; and 100 metal dockside signs were
installed at major departure points to the Sanctuary. Plans
are underway to expand the campaign more widely throughout the
Gulf of Maine in outyears with possible co-sponsorship by the
National Marine Fisheries Service under their "Watchable
Wildlife" program.
A
new Sanctuary website was developed in 2001 and can be found
at http://stellwagen.nos.noaa.gov.
The site provides a wealth of data, general information and
imagery and will continue to be populated with expanding content.
It will host all schedules and products generated during the
management plan review and should be regularly consulted. Future
plans for the website are to use it as a vehicle for educational
and outreach products; these include on-line courses such as
a training and certification program for whalewatch naturalists,
as well as reports on the science and management of the Sanctuary
ecosystem.
The
Sanctuary is working to expand its level of outreach to whalewatch
companies and their passengers with new brochures, charts and
posters. Work is underway to increase the Sanctuary's presence
at key whalewatch and boating ports bordering Massachusetts
Bay through signage and exhibits.
next
page
return
to "Ongoing Activites" menu
return to main menu
