The Mooring Project in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary sits at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay and is home to diverse and abundant marine life and shipwrecks with stories to tell. This fascinating area is largely unexplored by divers even though it is no more than 25 miles from Boston. As a result of increased collaborative outreach efforts from the sanctuary and representatives of the diving community, divers are beginning to learn of the sanctuary’s diving opportunities. In particular, divers are interested in visiting sanctuary shipwrecks; however, the challenging offshore ocean environment and shipwreck protection regulations require a new approach to accessing these sites. This presentation will describe a mooring test project deployed on a recently discovered and still unidentified trawler shipwreck in 100 feet of water. The novel mooring system adapted existing techniques to create a simple and durable mooring that can be effectively used in the sanctuary’s environment. In addition to the mooring project’s specifics, the presenters will also describe how to best use the mooring and other sanctuary diving opportunities.