Stellwagen Bank Final EIS and Management Plan 



Page 132 



Therefore, there are no consequences expected to 

 the conduct of fishing activities under the status q uo 

 alternative. However, absent implementation of the 

 National Marine Sanctuary designation, there may 

 be anticipated indirect negative effects on fishing 

 activities through adverse environmental 

 consequences to the fishing environment, e.g., 

 habitat degradation. 



o. Defense Activities 



The status quo alternative is not expected to 

 have any consequence to military activities, since 

 Sanctuary prohibitions or other restrictions set forth 

 in the Sanctuary regulations do not apply to 

 activities of the Department of the Defense (DOD) 

 or to the Coast Guard (USCG), if they: 1) are 

 being carried out as of the effective date of 

 Sanctuary designation; 2) have no potential for any 

 significant adverse impacts on Sanctuary resources 

 or qualities; or 3) are exempted by the NOAA 

 following consultation between the NOAA and the 

 Department of Defense (in instances where the 

 activities have a potential for significant adverse 

 impact on Sanctuary resources or qualities). 



P- 



Enforcement 



Under the status quo alternative, the level of 

 enforcement presence would likely remain constant, 

 unless other existing regulatory authorities are able 

 to supplement funding necessary for enforcement 

 activities and personnel. The need for additionjd 

 enforcement, particularly in the areas of marine 

 mammal/vessel interactions and fishing activities, 

 has been identified; however, agency budgets have 

 generally precluded increasing existing levels of 

 personnel. The longer-term environmental effects 

 of static enforcement capabilities may be anticipated 

 to be negative to Sanctuary resources. 



2. Research and Education 



Under the status quo alternative, there will be 

 no research or education programs estabUshed that 

 focus on the national priorities of ensuring the long- 

 term protection of the Stellwagen Bank system. 

 Individual scientific studies of various single species, 

 or single issues will likely continue under the aegis 

 of private, university, or other governmental 



agencies. There will be no particular mechanism 

 for coordination of research results and fmdings, 

 unless one is possibly developed under the 

 Massachusetts Bays Program for nearshore waters. 

 Additionally, it is unlikely that needed baseline or 

 monitoring data will be developed relative to the 

 Stellwagen Bank environment. Also, under the 

 status quo alternative, it is unlikely that any 

 concerted effort will be undertaken to locate and 

 identify potential historical or cultural resources 

 which may exist in the area of Stellwagen Bank. 



Education or interpretive programs addressing 

 the importance of the Stellwagen Bank area will not 

 be developed under the status quo alternative. 

 Public information center(s) will not be estabhshed 

 to serve as focal points for the user and other 

 interested pubhc to learn about the significance of 

 Stellwagen Bank, and the importance of its 

 protection. 



In general, the status q uo alternative may, over 

 the long-term, contribute indirectly to the gradual 

 deterioration of the Stellwagen Bank system, if the 

 user and other public are not made aware, through 

 education and interpretation, of both its special 

 quahties and the importance of its long-term 

 protection and management. 



3. Management 



Under the status quo alternative, there will be 

 no comprehensive and integrated management of 

 the Stellwagen Bank area. Existing management 

 initiatives will continue as presently structured, i.e., 

 the Ocejm Sanctuaries Program (Commonwealth of 

 Massachusetts); the Massachusetts Bays 

 Program/National Estuary Program 

 (Commonwealth of Massachusetts/EPA); the Gulf 

 of Maine Initiative (MA/NH/ME/Nova 

 Scotia/New Brunswick); and the Cape Cod National 

 Seashore (DOI) (Figure 23). Of these, the 

 Massachusetts Bays Program /National Estuary 

 Program is beginning development of a 

 comprehensive conservation and management plan 

 (CCMP) for the Bays area. The CCMP will not 

 directly include the Stellwagen Bank, which is 

 immediately adjacent to Massachusetts Bay. The 

 Gulf of Maine Initiative has developed the 

 framework for a coordinated monitoring program 



