Stellwagen Bank Final EIS and Management Plan Page 145 



Section 11: Unavoidable Adverse Environmental or 

 Socioeconomic Effects 



No unavoidable adverse environmental or 

 socioeconomic impacts due to implementation of 

 the Sanctuary management plan are foreseen. To 

 the contrary, it is possible that there will be a 

 positive local socioeconomic impact due to 

 increased awareness of the Stellwagen Bank's 

 ecological value and visitation by the pubUc. 



Section III: Relationship Between Short-Term 

 Uses of the Environment and the Maintenance and 

 Enhancement of Long-Term Productivity 



Sanctuary designation will emphasize the 

 importance of the natural and historical resources of 

 the Stellwagen Bank area. The quahty of the 

 Stellwagen Bank environment is still relatively 

 pristine, and the diversity and abundance of the 

 ecosystem is relatively unaltered. National marine 

 sanctuary designation will enhance pubhc awareness 

 of this system, and provide long-term assurances 

 that its natural resources will be maintained for 

 future use and enjoyment. Implementation of the 

 preferred alternative will ensure that any changes in 

 use patterns which degrade the Bank environment 

 are monitored and possibly reversed or halted. 



The education, research and resource 

 protection programs will provide information, 

 management and protection that develop a 

 foundation for wise public use of the Stellwagen 

 Bank area, and result in long-term productivity of 

 the system. Similarly, information collected through 

 the research program will assist marine natural 

 resource managers in making better management 

 decisions. Better management in turn will help 

 resolve use conflicts and mitigate the adverse effects 

 of human activities. 



