Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is a federally protected marine area off the coast of Massachusetts that conserves a shallow underwater plateau and its biologically rich waters. The bank concentrates prey species and supports abundant marine life, including large populations of baleen whales.

The area is internationally known for whale watching; commercial operators run trips from several Gulf of Maine ports and researchers conduct regular surveys. The sanctuary also supports important seabird colonies and fishery resources, and it is the focus of ongoing scientific monitoring and habitat protection.

NOAA designated the area as a National Marine Sanctuary to protect its ecological value and to manage human activities that affect the marine ecosystem. Sanctuary staff and partners carry out research, education and maritime-use planning.

The sanctuary lies at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay between Cape Cod and Cape Ann, off the Massachusetts coast and within reach of coastal ports on the inner Gulf of Maine.

• Best season: Late spring through fall is the prime season for whale watching, with frequent sightings of humpback, fin and minke whales; bring warm layers and binoculars for offshore viewing.
• Boat access: Most visitors access the sanctuary via commercial whale-watching boats operating from ports such as Provincetown, Gloucester and Boston.

What to See #

• Stellwagen Bank: The shallow, submerged plateau that gives the sanctuary its name; it concentrates prey and supports high densities of whales, dolphins and seabirds.
• Research and monitoring: NOAA-led and partner research programmes that operate acoustic monitoring, vessel-based surveys and citizen-science projects across the sanctuary to study marine mammals and ecosystem health.