Management Plan Review

Management Plan Review Introduction

The management plan review process currently consists of the distribution of the "State of the Sanctuary Report" and the "Management Plan Review Update: 1998-2002." A public comment period (July 1-October 18, 2002) and additional public meetings in September 2002 offer you additional opportunities to provide comment on Sanctuary management.

For information on submitting comments on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary management plan, visit out Get Involved section.

Over the course of the next two years, management plan review will continue to be a community-based process, providing numerous opportunities for public participation. Please check our Calendar section for the latest updates on scheduled events.

The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary's existing management plan was published in 1993. In December 1998 and January 1999, the Sanctuary initiated review of its management plan by holding "scoping" meetings to ask the public for comments on the status of site management. The following themes emerged as general areas of concern during those meetings:
Alteration of seafloor habitat and ecosystem protection;
Impacts of human activities on marine mammals;
Condition of water quality;
Lack of public awareness; and
Effective enforcement.