Stellwagen Bank Final EIS and Management Plan 



Page 52 



The most prevalent species groups caught in the 

 North Atlantic recreational fishery in waters beyond 

 the three-mile jurisdictional limit for the same years 

 are indicated as follows (compiled from Essig 1991): 



1987: 



Species Group 

 Scup 

 Bluefish 

 Atlantic Cod 

 Winter Flounder 

 Atlantic Mackerel 

 Pollock 

 Tautog 



Total Fish Caught (x 1,000) 

 2,863 

 1,486 

 1,461 

 1,057 



381 



371 



317 



1988: 



Species Groups Total Fish Caught (x 1.000) 



Atlantic Mackerel 2,325 



Atlantic Cod 1,704 



Bluefish 803 



Scup 546 



Dogfish Sharks 500 



Winter Flounder 139 



Summer Flounder 125 



As previously discussed, it appears that existing 

 NMFS whalewatch guidelines for the Gulf of Maine 

 are generally followed by commercial whalewatch 

 vessel operators. However, there are at least 

 occasional, albeit largely unconfirmed reports of 

 whale harassment and collisions with smaller, non- 

 commercial vessels, such as those used for 

 recreational fishing and/or whalewatching activities. 

 Evidence of these incidents is in large part 

 supported by photographs of cuts and scars on the 

 backs, flukes, and fins of cetaceans, which have been 

 identified as hkely resulting from coUisions with 

 smaller (i.e., less than 50 feet) vessels. (Center for 

 Coastal Studies, 1991). 



NMFS is developing proposed national 



whalewatch regulations, which would be applicable 

 to all vessels (regardless of their commercial or 

 non-commercial status). It is anticipated that these 

 proposed regulations will be published for public 

 review and comment during 1992. Presently, 

 however, the Gulf of Maine whalewatch guidelines 

 issued by NMFS in 1985 remain in effect, but are 

 not enforceable as law. 



4. Commercial Shipping 



Vessels crossing Stellwagen Bank come from two 

 principal sources. The first is vessels arriving at and 

 departing from Boston Harbor. There is an 

 estabUshed Vessel Traffic Separation Scheme 

 (VTSS) recommended for this approach to Boston 

 Harbor (Figure 8). The VTSS originates in the 

 Great South Channel, heads in a northerly direction 

 until just off the easterly side of Provincetown 

 (Buoy "BD"), where it proceeds in a northwesterly 

 direction, crossing the Bank, and ending in a 

 Precautionary Area off the entrance to Boston 

 Harbor. The second source of vessel traffic across 

 the Bank is from the Cape Cod Canal. Based on 

 data provided for the Port of Boston by the Boston 

 Shipping Association, and a review of data logs 

 from the Cape Cod Canal Field Office of the U.S. 

 Army Corps of Engineers, for the twelve month 

 period May 1989 to May 1990 (Table 7), 

 approximately 2700 vessels crossed Stellwagen Bank 

 (average of about 225 trips per month). About half 

 of the vessels crossing the Bank are carrying liquid 

 petroleum products. The remainder of the cargo 

 volume is made up of bulk materials (e.g., asphalt, 

 gypsum, cooking oils), containers, fish, scrap metals, 

 and automobiles. The Port of Boston is also visited 

 by a small number of cruise ships, research and 

 mihtary vessels. Vessel activity does not appear to 

 vary much seasonally. While fluctuations have 

 occurred, and will probably continue to occur 

 periodically, it is likely that shipping activity in and 

 out of the Port of Boston will remain relatively 

 stable, and be dominated by the movement of 

 petroleum (Edwju'd O'Leary, COE/NED, pers. 

 comm.. May 1990). Despite the proposed 

 deepening of portions of the Harbor to be 

 completed by the mid-1990's and the worldwide 

 trend toward larger vessels, it is unlikely that 

 significantly larger vessels will use Boston Harbor. 



