Stellwagen Bank Final EIS and Management Plan Page 1 



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 



Stellwagen Bank is located in the extreme southwestern Gulf of Maine, within Massachusetts Bay. The 

 Bank's southern end is situated approximately six miles north-northwest of Provincetown, Massachusetts. In 

 accordance with Title III of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 

 1431 et seq.. this Final Environmental Impact Statement and Management Plan proposes implementation of the 

 Congressionally designated Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to facilitate the long-term protection and 

 management of the resources and qualities of the Stellwagen Bank system. 



Part One of this document reviews the authority for national marine sanctuary designation; the mission and 

 goals of the National Marine Sanctuary Program; the history of this proposal's development; and the purpose 

 and need for designating a national marine sanctuary at Stellwagen Bank. 



Part Two, Section I outlines Sanctuary management goals and objectives in resource protection, research, 

 interpretation/ education, and visitor use. Part Two, Section II describes the environmental conditions, living 

 and non-Uving resources of the Sanctuary area, and the human activities occurring in the vicinity. 



Part Two, Section II describes the Sanctuary setting. The boundary surrounds the entire Stellwagen Bank 

 and includes approximately 638 square nautical miles (842 square miles). The glacially-deposited Bank feature 

 measures approximately 16.30 nautical miles (18.75 miles; 30.17 km) in length, and 5.43 nautical miles (6.25 

 miles; 10.01 km) in width, at its widest point. Two distinct peak productivity periods produce a complex system 

 of overlapping mid-water and benthic habitats within the sanctuary study area. Commercially important fisheries 

 include extensive benthic, invertebrate, and pelagic species. The Bank system also provides important feeding 

 and nursery grounds for large and small cetacean species, several of which are endangered. Diverse bird species 

 forage at the Bank, some in direct association with feeding cetaceans and fishing vessels. 



Traditionally, the principal human activity dependent on the Bank's resources has been commercial fishing, 

 and this tradition continues. Recently, whale-watching has also become an important commercial activity. To 

 a lesser degree, sportfishing also generates significant economic revenues. Additional human activities involving 

 the Bank system include recreational fishing, research, commercial shipping, and dredged materials disposal. 

 In addition to these activities, possible sand/gravel mining, development of offshore artificial fixed platforms, and 

 mariculture operations could affect Stellwagen Bank resources and qualities in the future. 



The sanctuary management plan is presented in Part Two, Section III of this document. This plan provides 

 guidelines to ensure that all management activities conducted during the first five years following designation are 

 directed at addressing important issues as a means of meeting sanctuary objectives. Management actions are 

 considered within the context of three categories of program objectives: resource protection, research, and 

 interpretation/education. Resource protection will involve cooperation with other agencies in formulating 

 management policies and procedures, including the enforcement of regulations. Research will include baseline, 

 monitoring, and predictive studies to provide information needed to address management issues. 

 Interpretation/education programs wUl focus on improving public awareness and understanding of sanctuary 

 resources, and the need to protect them. 



Existing regulatory authorities affecting the sanctuary area (Appendix B) will not be replaced or superseded 

 by sanctuary designation. Rather, the effect of such existing authorities will be strengthened via cooperative 

 efforts among implementing agencies. The following activities, however, will be regulated by NOAA under the 

 terms of designation: 



a. Discharging or depositing of materials or substances, (either within or from outside the Sanctuary); 



