Stellwagen Bank Final EIS and Management Plan 



Page 77 



Section III: Sanctuary Management Plan 



A. Overall Management and Development Concept 



1. General Context 



The highest management priority for the 

 Sanctuary is long-term protection of the living and 

 non-living resources of the Stellwagen Bank system. 

 Effective protection of Sanctuary is dependent on 

 several factors affecting the feasibiUty of Sanctuary 

 programs and actions. Factors affecting 



management of the Sanctuary include: its size; its 

 depth and location; its accessibility; and 

 coordination of responsibiUties for comprehensive 

 management of the site with other authorities. 



As discussed in previous sections, the 

 Stellwagen Bank area receives moderate-to-high 

 levels of human use. with particularly high levels of 

 visitation on a seasonal basis. The proximity to 

 shore and accessibility of the site indicate the need 

 for a Sanctuary management structure which 

 provides for coordination of resource protection, 

 research, and interpretation/education activities. 



Understanding the ecological relationships 

 among the diverse and abundant species of benthic 

 organisms, invertebrates, fishes, mammals, and 

 seabirds dependent on the Stellwagen Bank 

 environment is of primary importance in providing 

 system protection. The Sanctuary management plan 

 proposes a research program which will characterize 

 and monitor environmental conditions. This 

 continuing program will provide the basis for 

 detecting significant changes in the status of 

 populations and their habitats. These data bases 

 and predictive studies will in turn provide the basis 

 for formulation of contingency plans and response 

 mechanisms to unforeseen threats to the Sanctuary 

 environment and surroimding waters. 



Interested individuals and organizations 

 throughout Massachusetts and New England will 

 play an important role in attaining resource 

 protection goals in the Sanctuary. Inherent to this 

 management plan, and critical to its success, are 

 effective interpretive programs enhancing public 

 understanding, and hence, support for management 



objectives. Establishment of the Stellwagen Bank 

 National Marine Sanctuary will provide a unique 

 opportunity to inform the public about both the 

 value of resource protection and the need for long- 

 term management of the overedl Bank system. 

 Communicating these messages effectively to the 

 public will depend on publications, exhibits, and 

 special events tailored to a varied public audience. 



This management plan outlines actions tailored 

 to specific issues affecting Sanctuary resources. The 

 plan recognizes the basic need for a balanced 

 approach to system management, reflecting both 

 protection priorities and the multiple-use character 

 of the Bank system. Implementation of this plan 

 will involve cooperation and coordination among 

 several agencies with specified regulatory 

 responsibilities for the Stellwagen Bank tirea. In 

 addition to NOAA's National Marine Fisheries 

 Service (NMFS), other agencies include the U.S. 

 Coast Guard (USCG), the U.S. Environmental 

 Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army Corps of 

 Engineers (COE), and the Commonwealth of 

 Massachusetts (MA). Regular information 



exchanges and coordination of poUcies and 

 procediu-es for resource protection will be integral 

 to all Sanctuary programs, including research and 

 interpretation. The management plan is designed to 

 guide the management of the Sanctuary for the 

 first five years following designation. During this 

 period, management initiatives wiU occur in three 

 basic programs: resource protection, research, and 

 interpretation. Guidelines and specific initiatives for 

 each program are discussed in the remainder of this 

 section. 



2. Existing Management Programs 



The ocean areas within and surrounding the 

 Sanctuary are currently subject to a number of 

 management plans, either existing or in preparation. 

 While none of these efforts focus particularly on the 

 resources of the Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary, all 

 affect, or will be affected by, designation of the 

 Sanctuary. 



a. Regional Management (Within 

 Massachusetts) 



Management of the Massachusetts Bay and 



