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People and the Sanctuary

A humpback whale breaches next to a whale watching vessel. New guidelines for whale watching have been issued by the National Marine Fisheries click image for more...(photo: Anne Smrcina)

Children as well as adults enjoy the thrill of seeing the majestic whales up close. For whale watch trips in the spring and fall, its best to dress very warmly as click image for more.. (photo: Anne Smrcina)

The major shipping lanes to Boston take tankers and other large vessels right through the middle of the sanctuary. On hazy or foggy days, at night or on days with rough seas whales may be hard to see. (photo: Anne Smrcina)

A collision and propeller cuts from a large ship killed this right whale (it is not known where the strike occurred). A mandatory click image for more... (photo: Center for Coastal Studies)

Large numbers of boats travel into the sanctuary to watch whales. Scientists are interested in knowing whether sound levels are loud enough to click image for more...(photo: Brad Barr)

Whales can get entangled in lines and fishing gear, leading to potentially life-threatening situations. On-going research is looking at click image for more... (photo: New England Aquarium)

For bird watchers, the sanctuary is a popular destination. During summer, birders can travel out to Stellwagen Bank with any of the whale watch tours to see a variety of species,click image for more...(photo: Dann Blackwood, USGS)

At one time great auks spent their winters on Stellwagen Bank. However, in 1844, ten years before Stellwagen Bank was mapped, the last of the great auks was killed. Humans use of marine resources is the focus of a new sanctuary education package. (photo: Anne Smrcina)

Recreational and commercial fishing boats have easy access to the sanctuary from Cape Cod and Cape Ann. Boston, pictured here, is just 25 miles directly west. (photo: Dan Blackwood, USGS)

A purse seine boat travels through the sanctuary as it searches for schools of tuna. This fishing method involves click image for more... (photo: Dann Blackwood, USGS)

Trawlers use nets that sweep across the bottom, held open by "doors" on each side of the net. The contents of the net are emptied click image for more... (photo: Center for Coastal Studies)

The seafloor shows markings after the passage of trawl fishing gear. Heavily fished areas no longer have any significant amount of three-dimensional cover. (photo: Peter Auster and Paul Donaldson, NURC, Uconn)

Sea turtles, like this leatherback, can also get caught up in debris. Not only was this animal entangled, but a necropsy revealed a click image for more... (photo: Doug Beach)

Scientists from the US Geological Survey lower SeaBoss (Sea Benthic Observation Sampling System), a frame with video and still imaging systems and sampling equipment. (photo: Dan Blackwood, USGS)

A sub-bottom profiler allows geologists to get data about the seafloor and the structure below. (photo: Dan Blackwood, USGS)

Kraken, a remotely-operated vehicle is launched by scientists from the National Undersea Research Center, University of Connecticut. An operator at the surface directs the "robot" to specific targets for photography or sampling activities. (photo: National Undersea Research Center - UConn)

Neither rain nor storms will sway these researchers from their appointed rounds. Here, a naturalist dredge is being readied for benthic sampling. (photo: (photo: Peter Auster, National Undersea Research Center - UConn)

Subs, like Clelia, have been used by the National Undersea Research Center and other research institutions to study the sanctuary. This sub is operated by the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. (photo: Brad Barr)

An informational kiosk on sanctuary resources has been placed at MacMillan Wharf in Provincetown, a center for whale watching on Cape Cod. (photo: Brad Barr)

The sanctuary has hosted the MIMI sailing vessel for week-long MIMI Fests and is using the vessel as a research platform during the Sustainable Seas Expedition. A widely used middle school curriculum is based on the exploits of the MIMI's crew. (photo: Anne Smrcina)

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