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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
Contact: Jennifer Bender Ferré, Executive Director (617) 522-1838 or
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jennifer@stellwagenalive.org">jennifer@stellwagenalive.org</a><br>
<br>
<b>GROUP ESTABLISHES NEW FOUNDATION STELLWAGEN ALIVE</b> – Friends of
Our National Marine Sanctuary<br>
<br>
Boston, MA – August 3, 2007 Stellwagen Alive, Friends of Our National
Marine Sanctuary, is pleased to announce<br>
its establishment as a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization with the
mission to support the protection, research and<br>
education goals of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. “The
nonprofit organization and the federal<br>
sanctuary program will work to engage the public and to build
constituency to ensure this unique area is protected<br>
for current and future generations,” said Dr. Jennifer Bender Ferré,
Executive Director.<br>
<br>
The sanctuary encompasses an offshore area almost the size of the State
of Rhode Island, over 842 square miles<br>
between Cape Cod and Cape Ann, Massachusetts. The sanctuary is centered
on a prominent underwater<br>
plateau—Stellwagen Bank—that creates distinct and dynamic habitats
characterized by astonishing marine<br>
diversity. Species found at this site include many marine mammals, such
as endangered North Atlantic Right<br>
Whales and humpback whales, endangered sea turtles, and fish
populations including cod, herring and tuna.<br>
The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is also the site of
numerous nationally significant historic<br>
shipwrecks, such as the Portland and the Paul Palmer, chronicling the
role of this area in the history and<br>
economic life of the region.<br>
<br>
Stellwagen Alive is a Massachusetts nonprofit public benefit
corporation whose goals are: (1) to increase public<br>
awareness of the sanctuary so that the New England region recognizes
its value and importance; (2) to educate the<br>
public about the special significance of the sanctuary and its
associated ecological and historic treasures; (3) to<br>
attract volunteers who are passionately committed to the protection and
promotion of the sanctuary; and (4) to<br>
enhance sanctuary programming and operations.<br>
<br>
"The creation of Stellwagen Alive provides an exciting partnership
opportunity for the sanctuary and a dynamic<br>
organization to help bring the wonders of this special place to the
public," said Dr. Craig MacDonald, Sanctuary<br>
Superintendent. "We look forward to working closely with our friends
group to expand sanctuary programs in<br>
resource protection, research and education."<br>
<br>
Stellwagen Alive accepts tax-deductible donations and gifts from
individuals, private foundations and<br>
corporations.<br>
<br>
For more information on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
contact:<br>
Anne Smrcina or Nathalie Ward (781) 545-8026 x201.<br>
<br>
On the Internet:<br>
National Marine Sanctuary Program - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov">http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov</a><br>
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://stellwagen.noaa.gov">http://stellwagen.noaa.gov</a><br>
Stellwagen Alive - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.stellwagenalive.org">http://www.stellwagenalive.org</a>
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