Our Purpose
Who We Are
Stellwagen Alive! is on a mission—a mission to preserve Stellwagen Bank and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We are all at risk of losing this backyard undersea treasure that we’ve depended on for centuries.
Formed in 2007 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, we actively partner with fishermen, scientists and local communities for ongoing efforts to save New England's unique marine sanctuary.
We seek to preserve Stellwagen's:
Ecological Integrity: The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is at the heart of the Gulf of Maine Ecosystem. The Sanctuary’s most prominent physical feature, Stellwagen Bank is a long shallow sand ridge – in some places only sixty feet deep! Steep canyons, deep mud basins and boulder reefs, remnants of the last ice-age, mark a fantastic undersea landscape rich with life. Continuously shaped by tides and currents, the Sanctuary is core habitat for both resident and migratory species from the bottom to the top of the ocean food web.
Biological
Diversity: The coexistence of unique geographic features
and oceanographic forces, which occur in only a handful of locations
on our planet, draw a breathtaking variety of fish, birds and marine
mammals – over 500 species in total. Exploding with plankton,
abundant with sand lance, herring and mackerel, Stellwagen is a
feeding ground for giant bluefin tuna, threatened Humpback and Fin
Whales, and rare sea turtles. Half the population of North
Atlantic Right Whales, one of the most endangered animals in the
sea, visit Stellwagen every year to feed and nurse their young.
Economic
Legacy: Stellwagen Bank has been one of the most productive
fishing grounds in the northeast since the first European settlers
arrived on our shores. Many thousands of commercial fishermen have
plied Stellwagen’s waters in order to feed New England families.
Though the number of fishing boats has been reduced due to federal
restrictions, Stellwagen remains a key economic driver of our economy.
Cultural Legacy: With over 18 documented shipwrecks,
4 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
Stellwagen also provides a rich historical resource for humans.
Learn more about the sanctuary
and its history or view photos and videos of
Stellwagen at Play.
What We Do
Stellwagen Bank cannot thrive without human help. Our goal to is
to raise public awareness of sanctuary resources and management
issues through ongoing efforts,
including:
Preservation
& Cleanup
Research & Programs
Education & Outreach
In our Stellwagen Sweep program,
we work with local fishermen to clean up abandoned fishing debris,
ensuring both their livelihood and Stellwagen's health.
And in our Acoustic Validation
Study, we are working with scientists to map the effects of
ocean noise on marine wildlife, with a view towards improving the
underwater landscape.
Using funding from individuals, as well as public and private sources
on projects like these, we aim to make Stellwagen Bank a shining
example of marine stewardship.
How You Can Help
As a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, Stellwagen Alive! relies
entirely on donations, members and volunteers to help us in our
efforts to conserve Stellwagen's irreplaceable marine habitat.
Getting
involved is easy!
• Individual
Membership
• Corporate
Membership
• Volunteer
• Donate
• Report
Marine Debris
• Collect
Marine Debris
• Intern
• Contact Us
And don't forget to visit our what's
happening page or sign up for our newsletter
to keep up to date with our newest initiatives.