Stellwagen Bank Final EIS and Management Plan 



Pc^e84 



population dynamics as indicators of species' 

 response to natural or human-caused threats to the 

 Bank's resources. 



Additional monitoring studies should include 

 fluctuations in cetacean and seabird abundance and 

 relative effects of sport fishing, commercial fishing, 

 and whalewatch activities. 



As needed, the Sanctuary research program 

 will also conduct focused predictive studies, jmalyze 

 the causes and consequences of system changes, and 

 predict the effects on the system of new or 

 increased levels of human activity. For instance, 

 possible areas of predictive study might include: the 

 effects of increased boating traffic on marine 

 mammals. 



3. Selection and Management of Research 

 Projects 



Sanctuary research projects fimded by SRD 

 will address the resolution of management issues 

 and concerns. The Sanctuary Manager and SRD 

 staff will follow research selection procedures 

 established by SRD to ensure that the Sanctuary's 

 research program is consistent with the poUcies and 

 directions of the National Marine Sanctuary 

 Program. Research selection procedures include: 

 preparing an annual Sanctuary Research Plan 

 (SRP); and monitoring progress on research 

 conducted in the Sanctuary. 



a. Annual Sanctuary Research Plan (SRP) 



A Sanctuary Research Plan (SRP) will be 

 prepared each year. Annual Research Plans for 

 individual National Marine Sanctuaries are 

 incorporated into a National Research Plan for the 

 overall National Marine Sanctuary Program. The 

 annual research planning process involves the 

 following steps: 



(1) Sanctuary management concerns are identified, 

 with supporting evidence or rationales. 



(2) Research priorities are established, based upon 

 the identification of management concerns. 

 Research priorities are established by the 

 Sanctuary Manager, in consultation with SRD. 



Important factors to be considered in 

 establishing research priorities include: 



• immediate or evolving management issues 

 which can be resolved through directed 

 research; 



• prospects of related research in progress; 

 and 



• availability of funding and equipment for 

 research support. 



(3) Following the identification of management 

 concerns, a research announcement and 

 request for detailed research proposals is 

 prepared. The announcement and request for 

 proposals discusses the identified management 

 concerns, and summarizes past and current 

 related research. Occasionally research 

 workshops are conducted to faciUtate the 

 identification of research problems. 



(4) A draft SRP is prepared based on suggestions 

 generated by the aimouncement, workshops or 

 other means. A Ust of proposed research 

 projects is presented in the draft SRP, with 

 supporting discussion and rationales. 



(5) The draft SRP is forwarded to SRD and 

 circulated for peer review. 



(6) A fmal SRP is prepared, documenting how 

 proposed research projects meet the national 

 selection criteria. 



The fmal SRP is forwarded to SRD; and it is 

 incorporated into the National Marine Sanctuary 

 Program Research Plan. The highest ranking 

 proposed research projects are selected from the 

 National Plan, and procurement schedules are then 

 prepared. 



In instances where a research proposal entails 

 activities prohibited by Sanctuary regulations, a 

 research permit may be issued by NOAA upon 

 separate application by the researchers. 

 Alternatively, SRD may determine that all or part 

 of the research should be not conducted inside the 

 Sanctuary's boundary. Resccuch activities involving 



