Jan Meeting - Exploring Stellwagen Bank: Sanctuary Science and Whale Research

Our January 19th speaker is Laura Howes, a whale naturalist and field researcher at NOAA. Her presentation will provide an overview of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS), which was designated in 1992 to protect its 682 square nautical miles. Current research focuses on sand habitat, whale/seabird tagging, and soundscape monitoring. Resource protection includes a Shipwreck Avoidance Program and measures to protect North Atlantic Right Whales from vessel strikes.

Laura has been enveloped within the sanctuary since 2011, where she has spent thousands of hours out on Stellwagen Bank as a whale watch naturalist and field researcher. She has supported SBNMS as a whale expert on tagging cruises, sand lance surveys, and biopsy studies. As the Sanctuary Outreach Specialist, she runs their community Advisory Council, outreach events, and volunteer programs. Laura received her B.A. in Human Ecology in 2009 at College of the Atlantic and is a Graduate student in Biology at University of Massachusetts Boston.

Getting There

• By car: Meters will be free for MLK Day. You’ll usually find open spots along India Street (set GPS to 35 India St).
• Garage: Paid parking is available at the Boston Harbor Garage.
• MBTA: Take the Blue Line to Aquarium Station.

Upcoming Events

• February meeting: (Tentative) Annual Members-only NeAQ Tour
• March meeting: Peter George: Lake Tanganyika cichlids
• April meeting: Karen Randall
• May meeting: Spring Auction
• June meeting: Greg Gregory: Black Water Species

Subscribing to the BAS mailing list will ensure you receive reminders about monthly speakers, our annual NEAQ Tour, as well as Quarterly and Yearly Auctions and other club events.