The sanctuary is located just 25 miles off the coast of Massachusetts and covering 842 square miles. Beside its rich natural resources it is also a sad example of how poorly we steward New England’s critical ocean wildlife and habitat for future generations. Scientific studies have shown that Stellwagen’s ocean ecosystem is in serious decline, a new draft management plan released recently have little solutions for recovery of this special place.
Marine sanctuaries protect distressed ocean waters off the Hawaii, California, and Florida coasts. It include no-take zones to protect against damaging commercial fishing practices and other harmful human activity. But at Stellwagen Bank it is nearly decline despite its ecological importance and threatened state. Stellwagen Bank is renowned for its abundance of wildlife and unique underwater habitat.
It is said that Stellwagen Bank’s waters are home to 575 known species, including endangered humpback and northern right whales, sea turtles, and smaller animals such as sponges, sea anenomes, and corals. Rocky outcroppings support the fabled Atlantic cod and the lesser known but endangered Atlantic wolffish. Created in 1992, the sanctuary aspires to protect these species and the habitats on which they depend.
Stellwagen Bank’s draft management plan lack the basic protection mission. The National Marine Sanctuary Programme and the scientists who worked on the plan deserve credit for telling the truth: The sanctuary is in grave danger. Overfishing has narly depleted the production fish species stocks and every square foot of the sanctuary seafloor has been disturbed by commercial fishing gear. Now it has become a matter of great concern that how to save the rich resources of Stellwagen Bank.
