Department of Commerce
NOAA Ocean Service
- National Marine Sanctuary Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2001
CONTACT: |
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Anne Smrcina
(781) 545-8026 x204 |
NEW ENFORCEMENT PATROLS BEGIN IN STELLWAGEN BANK
SCITUATE, Mass. -- The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
will receive added protection this summer as a joint federal-state
program begins regular law enforcement patrols starting Friday,
May 11th.
For the first time, Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP)
patrol boats will provide a visible presence in the Sanctuary,
particularly
on busy weekend days when commercial and recreational boats jockey
for position around local whales. MEP officers are cross-deputized
to work in federal waters, and can enforce federal environmental
regulations, particularly ones to protect endangered marine mammals
and other Sanctuary resources.
This cooperative effort between the
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, the Massachusetts Environmental
Police, and the NOAA
Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement will educate the boating public
while documenting Sanctuary uses and provide a regular marine "cop
on the beat."
"
With the growth of whale watching and a steady increase in boat
traffic, the Sanctuary has become an oftentimes busy marine crossroads," notes
Sanctuary Superintendent Dr. Craig MacDonald. "Unfortunately,
many boaters are unaware of the established guidelines for safe
boating around whales. This program seeks to both bring important
education and information to the public and put officers on the
water where they can investigate potential violations of law."
"
The Massachusetts Environmental Police has been an active force
in marine resource protection over the years," says MEP Director
Richard Murray. "We are pleased to to be part of this interagency
cooperative effort and to field trained officers in support of
Sanctuary enforcement."
Sanctuary patrols depart from various
Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod Bay harbors from the beginning of
May through Oct. MEP officers
will offer education materials to boaters in the Sanctuary, collect
data on vessel traffic, and document violations of federal marine
environmental regulations.
"
This is an example of state and federal conservation agencies working
together towards a common goal," notes Dick Livingston, Special
Agent in Charge of NOAA Fisheries Northeast Enforcement Division.
The program builds upon a joint enforcement plan developed by the
Sanctuary and the NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement. Under
this agreement, a NOAA Special Agent is assigned to the Sanctuary
to coordinate law enforcement activities.
"
We see our major thrust in Year One to be in the area of public
outreach and education," said MacDonald. "Part of the
program will be an effort to gather better information about Sanctuary
traffic. We have an 842-square-mile Sanctuary (almost the size
of Rhode Island) and a scarcity of data about the level of usage
of this vast tract of open water," he added.
The Gerry E. Studds
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is one of 13 sites
in the National Marine Sanctuary System. This historically
important fishing ground and prime whalewatching site was designated
a National Marine Sanctuary in 1992. The Sanctuary is located
at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay between Cape Ann and Cape Cod;
its
headquarters office is located in Scituate, Mass.
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