Historic Shipwreck Avoidance on Stellwagen Bank

In conjunction with NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Fisheries requests that vessels avoid shipwreck sites on the northern and southern Stellwagen Bank within the Sanctuary by keeping gear 400 feet away from each of the site locations listed below. The table and map below show the coordinates where these shipwrecks are located.

We recognize that fishermen want to avoid shipwrecks to ensure the safety of the crew and because of the risks of damaging their gear when the gear gets hung up on a wreck or other objects on the ocean floor. Hanging up on a wreck can also cause serious damage to shipwrecks that have historical significance. Historic shipwrecks are protected under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and associated federal regulations. To add these coordinates to your plotter, please visit this website. 

Please see the “Frequently Asked Questions" section on this page for more information.

Location of Shipwrecks to Avoid on Stellwagen Bank

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are historic shipwrecks important?

Shipwrecks are important for several reasons:  Shipwrecks are one of the resources, like natural resources, protected by the Sanctuary.

• They provide habitat and refuge for a variety of marine life.
• They are time capsules that tell us about our past.
• They can be memorial sites representing the last resting place of fishermen and sailors.

What are the regulations on historic resources in the Sanctuary?

Although the act of moving, removing or injuring, or attempting to move, remove or injure, a Sanctuary historical resource is prohibited, traditional fishing operations are exempt from this prohibition. In addition, possession of any historic resource is prohibited. The definition of “traditional fishing operations” applies to federally permitted scallop or groundfish vessels operating pursuant to a fishery management plan.

How are shipwrecks regulated under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)?

Under the NHPA, federal agencies are obligated to take into account the effects of their undertakings (including issuance of permits) on historic properties, including shipwrecks. Historic properties are properties that are included in the National Register of Historic Places or that are eligible for inclusion in the National Register. As part of this consideration, agencies are required to consult with state historic preservation officers, tribes, or any other interested parties to identify and resolve (i.e., avoid, minimize, or mitigate) adverse effects.

What if I inadvertently damage a wreck?

The specific prohibition on injuring a Sanctuary historical resource does not apply if the damage is incidental to a traditional fishing operation (as opposed to intentional). NOAA greatly appreciates being notified of any interactions with a wreck, as it will help NOAA learn more about an unknown wreck, or to take steps to investigate and mitigate any damages caused by an inadvertent interaction with a known wreck. Please record the coordinates, the conditions, and any other pertinent information regarding such an interaction, and contact Ben Haskell, Deputy Superintendent, (781) 546-6005 or ben.haskell@noaa.gov.

Can I easily put the locations of these wrecks in my plotter?

Yes. Please visit the website for Stellwagen Shipwreck Sites or the coordinates of these wrecks in several different formats. Contact Talya TenBrink at talya.tenbrink@noaa.gov with any questions regarding these coordinates.

Where can I get more information?

For information on maritime heritage management and cultural resources in the Sanctuary please see the 2021 management plan.

For information on Sanctuary shipwrecks, visit this webpage. 

For information on the National Historic Preservation Act please visit this webpage.