Federal authorities have issued a warning to fishing vessels to stay away from 11 shipwrecks located in a marine sanctuary to the east of Boston, citing the potential for "serious damage" to the historically significant vessels that have sunk in the area since the 19th century.
According to a news release published on Wednesday, NOAA is urging boats to steer clear of the shipwreck sites within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, situated between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. While numerous shipwrecks populate the sanctuary, NOAA has highlighted 11 wrecks that should be avoided, such as the World War II minesweeper USS Heroic, the trawler Josephine Marie, and the 55-foot North Star. The remaining eight wrecks are unidentified vessels, as per the agency.
"NOAA acknowledges that fishermen aim to avoid shipwrecks to safeguard the crew's safety and prevent damage to their equipment when it becomes entangled on a wreck or other objects on the seabed," the agency stated, along with providing a map and coordinates for the sunken vessels. "Getting caught on a wreck can also lead to significant harm to shipwrecks of historical importance."
The preservation center emphasized the importance of shipwrecks in the region, highlighting their role as habitats and shelters for various marine creatures, as well as serving as memorials for lost fishermen and sailors.
Among the numerous vessels resting on the ocean floor within the sanctuary are the USS Heroic, Josephine Marie, and North Star. Additionally, there are at least 10 other named ships, including the steamship Portland, which tragically sank in 1898 during a storm, claiming the lives of all 192 individuals on board. Another vessel, the steamship Pentagoet, lost 18 crew members in the same catastrophic event.
The most recent addition to the sanctuary's underwater collection is the 60-foot Patriot, which sank on Jan. 3, 2009, resulting in the loss of both crew members.
The sanctuary affirms that these shipwrecks are invaluable historical artifacts, encapsulating the maritime history of the nation.
Protected under the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, and other federal regulations, historic shipwrecks hold a special place in marine conservation efforts.
The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary has become a top spot for whale watching activities. Recently, researchers at the sanctuary urged the public to keep an eye out for two missing research tags used in studying large whales, cautioning that these items could potentially "wash ashore anywhere along" the coastline.
