Stellwagen Bank
National Marine Sanctuary

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a wild ocean place near an urban world, sits east of Boston, Massachusetts between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. Historically important as a fishing ground, New England's only national marine sanctuary now reigns as a premier whale watching destination and continues to support commercial and recreational fishing. Its shipwrecks serve as time capsules of our nation's maritime history.

Sanctuary News

Painting of a Long-tailed Jaeger bird perched on a bright orange buoy floating in the ocean.
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2025 Marine Art Contest Winners

The Massachusetts Marine Educators and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary have jointly sponsored an annual Marine Art/Poster Contest for several decades with the theme of "Exploring the Biodiversity of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary."

people sitting around a table attending a sanctuary advisory council meeting
Attend

75th Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting

Due to the snowstorm and impending school cancellations, the 75th SAC Meeting will not be happening and will be postponed. New date to be announced later this week.

whale tail breaching the water
Apply

Sanctuary Advisory Council Recruitment

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is recruiting for 19 General and 2 Youth vacancies on its Advisory Council. Deadline for applications is Friday, January 20th 2026. More information can be found on our SAC recruitment page.

Whales in Motion
Watch

Whales in Motion
One long, slender, silver-and-blue fish swims horizontally above the sand, marked with a measurement line indicating a length of 6 inches. Below it, roughly a dozen other sand lances are burrowed vertically into the sea floor, with only their heads and upper bodies sticking out of the sand.
Watch

Sand Lance Animation
diagram showing a fishing vessel with a long tow rope trailing behind with a cylindrical object with fins. Two signal beams are sent out from the instrument to the seafloor and a sidescan sonar image is created.
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Stellwagen Mapping Initiative

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A Whale of a Time

A breaching humpback whale
A humpback whale breaches in SBNMS. Photo: SBNMS/Ari Friedlaender, NOAA Research Permit #14245

Thinking of going on a whale watch? Visit our whale watching pages to prepare for your trip. Check WHALESENSE to find environmentally responsible companies. Learn about local whale research.

Visit

A Gray fish with teeth peers out of a small opening
A wolffish peers out of its den. Photo: SBNMS/Matthew Lawrence

The sanctuary supports sustainable recreational fishing. Check regulations before heading out. Learn about local species, and find out about funding opportunities for education, outreach, and research projects that promote sustainable, ethical recreational fishing.

Multimedia

Immerse yourself in the ocean and your national marine sanctuaries without getting wet!

Dive Into Stellwagen Bank

National Marine Sanctuary System

national marine sanctuary system map

Safeguarding America's Premier Marine Places

From Washington state to the Gulf of America and from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Islands, the National Marine Sanctuary System protects 18 underwater parks spanning over 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters. By investing in innovative solutions, we strengthen these iconic places to address 21st-century challenges while supporting America's commerce and tourism. These unique locations inspire people to visit, value, and steward our nation's iconic ocean and Great Lakes waters.