Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is a marine protected area off the coast of Massachusetts. It is home to a wide variety of marine life, including fish, marine mammals, sea turtles and marine invertebrates.
About Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary:
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) is an 842-square mile underwater sanctuary located north of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. One of the most prominent features of the Sanctuary is Stellwagen Bank, a 19-mile long sandy plateau. At a depth of about 100-120 feet, Stellwagen Bank is also one of the shallowest features in the sanctuary. The sanctuary also includes Tillies Bank and the southern end of Jeffreys Ledge.
History of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary:
Stellwagen Bank was named for Henry S. Stellwagen, who mapped the bank in its entirety in 1854. During those days before sophisticated electronic depth sounders, crews had to lower weighted lines to the bottom to determine water depth. This tedious process took Stellwagen and his crew several months.
The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary was established in 1992, and was officially renamed the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in 1996 in recognition of Gerry E. Studds, a Massachusetts representative who was a leader in establishing the Sanctuary.
