July 19th GAFC/Stellwagen Bank NMS

[MSilvia]

On July 19th, The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary staff, along with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) will be hosting the 2nd annual Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Celebration at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, MA. The event will be held in conjunction with the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC).

There will be exhibits, workshops, free raffles, and door prizes, as well as an update on fish sightings by divers participating in the fish count program.

Spectre and I attended last year, and had a good time doing the GAFC. If you haven't already done so, consider signing up for a GAFC identification class prior to the event. I requested more info, and will update the post as I learn more.

In any case, it's a good excuse to get in a couple of dives and maybe score some free gear. If anyone else shows up, I plan to hit the Causeway for some seafood and drinks afterward...

 

[MSilvia]

The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary will be hosting their 2nd annual Sanctuary celebration event in conjunction with the Great Annual Fish Count on Saturday, July 19, 2003.

The event will be based at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. Divers need to select which site they wish to survey and pre-register with me for one of the following dive sites prior to the event. These sites include: Folly Cove, Back Beach, Old Garden Beach, Magnolia Rocks and Cathedral Rocks.

Divers will meet directly at their location and begin their survey dives beginning at 8:00am. There will be a volunteer shore coordinator for each location to assist with parking, etc.

All divers will then return to Stage Fort Park by 1pm for lunch and our equipment raffle which will be drawn at 2pm. The lunch and raffle are free to all volunteer divers who conduct at least one survey dive on saturday
7/19/03.

Our raffle boasts over $6000.00 in dive equipment. There are 7 grand prizes with an average value of over $400.00 each. Divers will all receive one (1) raffle ticket. The diver will then select which grand prize they would like to win by placing their ticket in the appropriate bowl for that prize. All non-winning tickets will then be placed into a single bowl. Divers will select whatever they would like to take from the prize table in the order
that each subsuquent winning ticket is drawn.

Remember - divers need to pre-register with me prior to the event to qualify for the GAFC celebration and prizes.

Warmest regards,

Bob Michelson
SBNMS Fish ID Coordinator
<pbm.inc@verizon.net>

 

[notabob]

I plan on being there... I'm signed up for the count, and definitely plan on being up there! Missed last year's, but look forward to doing it in a couple of weeks. Should be fun!

-Roman.

 

[MSilvia]

Which site?

I'm thinking Old Garden.

 

[notabob]

I was thinking of either Old Garden or Cathedral... I'll have a better idea tomorrow evening.

-Roman.

 

[MSilvia]

Let me know!

 

[mer]

Matt,

Where and when do you take this fish count class to be able to participate in this event?

-m

 

[element]

Just sent Bob a e-mail signing up.
1 fish, 2 fish, red fish, blue fish! Whoohoo!

 

[notabob]

Mer, try contacting Bob Michelson. he runs the fish count. I'll PM you his e-mail/phone.

Matt, I should be game for Old Garden. 8am, was it?

-Roman.

 

[element]

I was reading the fishcount info and noticed this.

http://www.fishcount.org/events/northeast.html

Isn't Back Beach actually in Rockport? or does it cross the line back into Gloucester?

BTW I got a confirmation that I will be counting at Old Garden. Hope to win more than a snorkel but this should be fun.