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ONMS Metadata Library > National Marine Sanctuaries > National Marine Sanctuary Boundaries >

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Boundary (polygon)

Data Set (DS)  |  Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS)
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:40113  |  Updated: March 4, 2026  |  Published / External 
Summary
Item Identification
Keywords
Physical Location
Data Set Info
Support Roles
Extents
Spatial Info
Access Info
Distribution Info
URLs
Activity Log
Tech Environment
Data Quality
Lineage
Child Items
Catalog Details

Summary

Stellwagen Bank NMS locator map

Short Citation
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 2026: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Boundary (polygon), https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/40113.
Full Citation Examples

Abstract

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the trustee for a national network of underwater parks encompassing both marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington state to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. The network includes a system of national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments. Few places on the planet can compete with the diversity of the National Marine Sanctuary System, which protects America's most iconic undersea natural and cultural resources. The system works with diverse partners and stakeholders to promote responsible, sustainable ocean uses that ensure the health of our most valued ocean and Great Lake places. By investing in innovative solutions, we strengthen these iconic places to address 21st-century challenges while supporting America's commerce and tourism. These unique locations inspire people to visit, value, and steward our nation's iconic ocean and Great Lakes places.

Purpose

The legal boundaries of the national marine sanctuaries are defined within the Code of Federal Regulations, at 15 C.F.R. Part 922 and the subparts therein. The GIS compatible digital boundary files for each national marine sanctuary are representations of those legal boundaries and are based on the best available data.

These files are provided to promote an understanding of the boundaries, locations, and extents for each national marine sanctuary. They are based on the legal definition of each sanctuary as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, at 15C.F.R. Part 922 and the subparts therein as stressed previously. These digital files are not intended and should not be relied upon for use in navigation or for legal purposes. For legal questions relating to the digital boundary files, please contact NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at the information provided in this metadata record.

Data Access & Downloads

Access Constraints:

None

Use Constraints:

NOT FOR LEGAL USE: NOT FOR NAVIGATION

Users must assume responsibility to determine the appropriate and relevant use of these data. This geospatial information is not to be used as LEGAL representations of the sanctuary boundaries. The digital boundaries were created with the most recent and accurate geospatial information available at the time of publication, but their overall extent, area, and/or proportions may change due to natural land changes along shorelines, as well as sanctuary boundary site modifications and expansions, as well as updated source data that is the basis of the boundary. Therefore, the currentness or accuracy of these digital boundaries that are provided to the public cannot be guaranteed.

Controlled Theme Keywords

boundaries

URLs

Child Items

Type Title
Entity Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Boundary

Contact Information

Point of Contact
GIS Coordinator
sanctuaries@noaa.gov
(301) 713-3125

Metadata Contact
GIS Coordinator
sanctuaries@noaa.gov
(301) 713-3125

Extents

Geographic Area 1

-70.597366° W, -70.035064° E, 42.766715° N, 42.0933° S

Time Frame 1
2004-12

Item Identification

Title: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Boundary (polygon)
Short Name: sbnms_py
Status: On Going
Creation Date: 2004-10-19
Publication Date: 2004-12
Abstract:

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the trustee for a national network of underwater parks encompassing both marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington state to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. The network includes a system of national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments. Few places on the planet can compete with the diversity of the National Marine Sanctuary System, which protects America's most iconic undersea natural and cultural resources. The system works with diverse partners and stakeholders to promote responsible, sustainable ocean uses that ensure the health of our most valued ocean and Great Lake places. By investing in innovative solutions, we strengthen these iconic places to address 21st-century challenges while supporting America's commerce and tourism. These unique locations inspire people to visit, value, and steward our nation's iconic ocean and Great Lakes places.
Purpose:

The legal boundaries of the national marine sanctuaries are defined within the Code of Federal Regulations, at 15 C.F.R. Part 922 and the subparts therein. The GIS compatible digital boundary files for each national marine sanctuary are representations of those legal boundaries and are based on the best available data.

These files are provided to promote an understanding of the boundaries, locations, and extents for each national marine sanctuary. They are based on the legal definition of each sanctuary as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, at 15C.F.R. Part 922 and the subparts therein as stressed previously. These digital files are not intended and should not be relied upon for use in navigation or for legal purposes. For legal questions relating to the digital boundary files, please contact NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at the information provided in this metadata record.
Notes:

1362
Other Citation Details:

none

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
ISO 19115 Topic Category
boundaries
UNCONTROLLED
NOS Data Explorer Topic Category Marine Boundaries
NOS Data Explorer Topic Category Nautical Charting
Sanctuary CFR
Sanctuary Code of Federal Regulations
Sanctuary marine protected area
Sanctuary MPA
Sanctuary National Marine Sanctuary
Sanctuary NMS
Sanctuary ONMS

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
Sanctuary Atlantic Ocean
Sanctuary Marine
Sanctuary Massachusetts
Sanctuary New Hampshire
Sanctuary Stellwagen

Physical Location

Organization: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
City: Silver Spring
State/Province: MD

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Maintenance Note:

Continually on varying schedule
Data Presentation Form: vector digital data
Distribution Liability:

Users must assume responsibility to determine the appropriate and relevant use of these data. This geospatial information is not to be used as LEGAL representations of the sanctuary boundaries. The digital boundaries were created with the most recent and accurate geospatial information available at the time of publication, but their overall extent, area, and/or proportions may change due to natural land changes along shorelines, as well as sanctuary boundary site modifications and expansions, as well as updated source data that is the basis of the boundary. Therefore, the currentness or accuracy of these digital boundaries that are provided to the public cannot be guaranteed.

Support Roles

Data Steward

CC ID: 500729
Date Effective From: 2004-12
Date Effective To:
Contact (Position): GIS Coordinator
Address: 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Email Address: sanctuaries@noaa.gov
Phone: (301) 713-3125
Fax: (301) 713-0404

Distributor

CC ID: 500731
Date Effective From: 2004-12
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS)
Address: 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
ROR: https://ror.org/04bgwn153
URL: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/

Distributor

CC ID: 1466484
Date Effective From: 2004
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS)
Address: 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
ROR: https://ror.org/04bgwn153
URL: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 500732
Date Effective From: 2004-12
Date Effective To:
Contact (Position): GIS Coordinator
Address: 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Email Address: sanctuaries@noaa.gov
Phone: (301) 713-3125
Fax: (301) 713-0404

Point of Contact

CC ID: 500730
Date Effective From: 2004-12
Date Effective To:
Contact (Position): GIS Coordinator
Address: 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Email Address: sanctuaries@noaa.gov
Phone: (301) 713-3125
Fax: (301) 713-0404

Extents

Currentness Reference: 200412

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 500735
W° Bound: -70.597366
E° Bound: -70.035064
N° Bound: 42.766715
S° Bound: 42.0933

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 500734
Time Frame Type: Discrete
Start: 2004-12

Spatial Information

Spatial Representation

Representations Used

Vector: Yes

Vector Representation 1

CC ID: 587712
Complex Object Present?: Yes
Complex Object Count: 1

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Data Access Procedure:

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Digital Boundary File (sbnms_py.shp) Digital boundry files are available for public consumption from the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries through their internet site. Because URL addresses and pages change, the actual data URL is not listed here, but will be searchable within the site (http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/) Requests may also be made through the ONMS Boundary Coordinator. See Distributor Contact Information for contact details.;
Data Access Constraints:

None
Data Use Constraints:

NOT FOR LEGAL USE: NOT FOR NAVIGATION

Users must assume responsibility to determine the appropriate and relevant use of these data. This geospatial information is not to be used as LEGAL representations of the sanctuary boundaries. The digital boundaries were created with the most recent and accurate geospatial information available at the time of publication, but their overall extent, area, and/or proportions may change due to natural land changes along shorelines, as well as sanctuary boundary site modifications and expansions, as well as updated source data that is the basis of the boundary. Therefore, the currentness or accuracy of these digital boundaries that are provided to the public cannot be guaranteed.

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 1466485
Download URL: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/library/imast_gis.html
Distributor: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) (2004 - Present)
File Name: NOAA'S National Marine Sanctuary Boundaries
Description:

Multiple shapefiles and Google Earth files are available to the public depicting the boundaries of each individual national marine sanctuary site. The zipfiles available for download contain these file types as well as a locator map and metadata.
Distribution Format: Shapefile

Distribution 2

CC ID: 1466486
Download URL: https://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/NMS_Boundaries_02032022/FeatureServer
Distributor: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) (2004 - Present)
File Name: NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Boundaries
Description:

A publicly available feature layer hosted online (REST Service)
File Date/Time: 2026-02-01 00:00:00
Distribution Format: ESRI REST Service

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 500727
URL: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/library/imast_gis.html
Name: sbnms_py
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: ZIP/SHP
Description:

Boundary shapefile for SBNMS

URL 2

CC ID: 1466487
URL: https://nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net/sanctuaries-prod/media/archive/pgallery/atlasmaps/images/sb_2000.jpg
Name: Stellwagen Bank NMS locator map
URL Type:
Browse Graphic
Stellwagen Bank NMS locator map
File Resource Format: jpg
Description:

Locator map for SBNMS

URL 3

CC ID: 1466488
URL: https://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/NMS_Boundaries_02032022/FeatureServer
Name: NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Boundaries
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: REST
Description:

Online hosted feature layer depicting all sanctuary sites

Activity Log

Activity Log 1

CC ID: 500754
Activity Date/Time: 2010-10-18
Description:

Date that the source FGDC record was last modified.

Activity Log 2

CC ID: 500753
Activity Date/Time: 2017-04-05
Description:

Converted from FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (version FGDC-STD-001-1998) using 'fgdc_to_inport_xml.pl' script. Contact Tyler Christensen (NOS) for details.

Activity Log 3

CC ID: 577378
Activity Date/Time: 2017-08-14
Description:

Partial upload of Maintenance Note field only.

Activity Log 4

CC ID: 587710
Activity Date/Time: 2017-09-13
Description:

Partial upload of Spatial Info section only.

Activity Log 5

CC ID: 602046
Activity Date/Time: 2017-11-01
Description:

Replaced entire Lineage section to populate new Source Contribution field.

Activity Log 6

CC ID: 718927
Activity Date/Time: 2018-02-08
Description:

Partial upload of Positional Accuracy fields only.

Technical Environment

Description:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.3.0.800

Data Quality

Accuracy:

Attributes were standardized by feature type (point, line, and polygon)across all sanctuary boundaries. The values recorded for each attributewere quality assured and believed to be accurate.
Horizontal Positional Accuracy:

Positional accuracy will vary depending on source
Vertical Positional Accuracy:

Positional accuracy will vary
Completeness Report:

Where possible, the entire boundary for the sanctuary is represented by this digital file.
Conceptual Consistency:

The data were topologically cleaned.

Lineage

Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 15, Volume 3

CC ID: 602048
Contact Name: US Federal GovernmentUS Department of CommerceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Extent Type: Range
Extent Start Date/Time: 1996
Extent End Date/Time: 2003
Source Contribution:

The depicted shoreline of the sanctuary boundary wasderived in part from information contained within the CFR. | Type of Source Media: online

Raster Coastal Map Series Showing Hydrography and Topography Found on NOAA's Charted Nautical Charts for All Near-Shore Geographic Areas of the U.S.

CC ID: 602047
Contact Name: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Publish Date: 2001-01-10
Extent Type: Continuing
Extent Start Date/Time: 1995-01-01
Citation URL: https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/csdl/ctp/cm_vs.htm
Source Contribution:

All information in Coastal Maps is derived from the Source Nautical Chart. | Source Geospatial Form: raster digital data | Type of Source Media: Raster Images

Process Steps

Process Step 1

CC ID: 602049
Description:

The geographic boundary coordinates listed within the United StatesCode of Federal Regulations (CFR) were converted to decimal degreesand a text file was created. A point coverage was then generatedusing ArcInfo GIS. The coverage was projected into the GeographicCoordinate System and overlaid on large scale nautical charts andanalyzed with additional data such as adjacent sanctuaries andshorelines. Specific attention was given to analysis ofinconsistencies between textual descriptions and listedcoordinates. The polyline files were created using a combination of thecoordinate list from the CFR and applicable shoreline vector files. Forpoint files, two methods were used. If the sanctuary had a shorelinecomponent, a polyline to point script was used to create a point foreach vertice. If a shoreline component was not present, then theoriginal coordinates from the CFR were used to create a point shapefile.Polygon files were created by converting polylines to polygons. Formore detailed process description, please use contact information below.
Process Date/Time: 2004-12-01 00:00:00

Child Items

Rubric scores updated every 15m

Rubric Score Type Title
Entity Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Boundary

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 40113
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:40113
Metadata Record Created By: Tyler Christensen
Metadata Record Created: 2017-04-05 14:28+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2026-03-04 19:17+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2018-02-08
Owner Org: ONMS
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2018-02-08
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2019-02-08