[SEMCO] NOAA Releases Sanctuaries Report

[Anne Smrcina]

Text Box: Contact: Anne Smrcina *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Stellwagen Bank NMS March 8, 2007

(781) 545-8026 ext. 204

*Historic Shipping Lane Shift in Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary
Featured in NOAA Sanctuaries Report*

A recent international agreement to move the Boston shipping lanes in an 
effort to reduce the risk of ship strikes to endangered whales in 
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is one of the major 
accomplishments highlighted in the 2006 State of the Sanctuaries Report, 
an annual summary of the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program’s most 
significant achievements.

The sanctuary is a key seasonal feeding ground for the small remaining 
population of highly endangered North Atlantic right whales, as well as 
groups of endangered humpback and finback whales. It is also an area 
where large commercial ships — nearly 200 per month — pass through to 
enter the Port of Boston.

“Staff research into reducing ship strikes to endangered whales in the 
sanctuary led to the International Maritime Organization’s approval of a 
northward shift and narrowing of the Traffic Separation Scheme,” said 
Stellwagen Bank sanctuary Superintendent Craig McDonald. “The move will 
reduce the risk of ship strikes to critically endangered right whales by 
up to 58 percent and to all large whale species by up to 81 percent.”

In addition to the reduction of this danger to whales, the report 
highlights other accomplishments that took place in Stellwagen Bank 
National Marine Sanctuary. These include an acoustic monitoring program 
tracking right whales by pinpointing their distinctive vocalizations, a 
unique “suction cup” humpback whale tagging program that allows 
researchers to record the underwater behaviors of the animals, and the 
listing of the sunken coal schooners /Frank A. Palmer/ and /Louise B. 
Crary/ to the National Register of Historic Places

The 2006 State of the Sanctuaries Report also details science, 
education, and resource protection accomplishments throughout the 
sanctuary system, including the establishment of the world’s largest 
area of marine protection in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the 
indication by several scientific studies that marine life is increasing 
within “no-take” reserves in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

“Our 2006 accomplishments reflect the significant progress being made by 
the National Marine Sanctuary Program to develop results-oriented 
resource protection, science, management and educational programs,” said 
sanctuary program Director Daniel J. Basta. “I am especially proud of 
our program’s five years of hard work with our partners that resulted in 
the president establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine 
National Monument.”

Information on the Stellwagen Bank sanctuary accomplishments and more 
across the sanctuary system, including in-depth features, stunning 
images and videos, are available on the sanctuary program Web site at 
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov.

The NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program, which manages Stellwagen 
Bank National Marine Sanctuary, seeks to increase the public awareness 
of America’s marine resources and maritime heritage by conducting 
scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. 
Today, the sanctuary program manages 13 national marine sanctuaries and 
one marine national monument that together encompass more than 150,000 
square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural 
resources.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the 
U.S. Commerce Department, is celebrating 200 years of science and 
service to the nation. From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast 
in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and 
the Commission of Fish and Fisheries in the 1870s, much of America's 
scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety 
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related 
events and information service delivery for transportation, and by 
providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine 
resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of 
Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60 
countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring 
network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and 
protects.

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On the Web:
NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov
NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov
NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: http://stellwagen.noaa.gov

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