Find Out How New Technology Helps Whale Conservation - Protecting Whales and Ships in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Date: August 4, 2009
Contact: Jody Anastasio, North District Interpreter, 508-487-1256

Whales and ships have long been at odds, from the days when captains hunted the leviathans at sea to modern-day problems with cargo vessels accidentally striking sea creatures, but new tracking technology may provide security to mariners and marine mammals alike. Hear the exciting discoveries that have been made to benefit both man and beast in “Protecting Whales and Ships in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.”

On Sunday, August 30^th, at 7:00 p.m., join Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Educator Anne Smrcina to find out how ship-tracking technology is being used to help with the challenge of protecting marine mammals. A new system, originally designed with ship safety and homeland security in mind, has allowed scientists to better understand how whales travel through busy shipping lanes. Smrcina will explain how collaborative efforts have revealed that the rights of whales and mariners are not mutually exclusive.

Stretching from three miles southeast of Cape Ann to three miles north of Cape Cod, the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an 842-square-mile protected marine area.  The underwater plateau is made from glacial debris left behind at the end of the last Ice Age, and provides fertile fishing grounds for both marine life and humans. The purpose of sanctuary is to conserve the biological diversity, ecological integrity, and cultural legacy of the area while facilitating compatible use.

Every Sunday in July and August, at 7:00 PM, join a special guest for an in-depth look at the history, culture and nature of Cape Cod in a one-hour program. Come each week to explore a range of topics, from reptiles and amphibians to ocean currents. The programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore. All presentations will be held the Province Lands Visitor Center and are free, accessible, and open to the public.

IF YOU GO:

The Province Lands Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Staff members are available to answer questions, assist with activity planning, and provide hiking and bicycling trail information in person, or by phone at [phone]. The visitor center features museum exhibits, orientation films, and a bookstore with interpretive items such as books, maps, games and puzzles. The 360-degree rooftop observation deck provides views of the surrounding dunes and sea. A listing of all of the national seashore’s programs is available at the two seashore visitor centers, or on-line at www.nps.gov/caco.

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