A coordinator says Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary has become a major tourism destination. Its visitor center hosts about 60,000 visitors each year. It’s estimated it contributes $100 million to the economy
By Stefan Yablonski
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve is a United States national marine sanctuary on Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay, within the northeastern region of Michigan.
“We are lucky No.13, designated on June 22, 2000,” said Stephanie Gandulla, resource protection coordinator.
It’s estimated that Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Lake Huron annually generates in excess of $100 million to the regional economy and supports more than 1,500 jobs. The visitor center for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a major tourism destination for the region, hosting approximately 60,000 visitors annually.
Officials in Oswego believe the NMS impact on this region will be similar — if not greater.
“I have lived here in Alpena 16 years. I don’t want to predict what [the NMS] could mean for Oswego,” Gandulla said. “Each community is indeed different. Alpena, even before the sanctuary, has always been a very special place, celebrating its natural and cultural resources. I think what the sanctuary has brought to Alpena and the communities in northeast Michigan is a greater awareness for people outside of the sanctuary. The folks here always knew they lived in a special place. The same as Oswego. What we do is bring that national and sometimes international attention to the resources here.”
Over time, the impact should be about the same in Oswego, she said.
“The sanctuary is multi-faceted in that we are a part of the education community, part of the recreation community and we are a part of the science community,” she added. “More and more people do come [it’s an economic boost] to the sanctuary waters to recreate, whether it is to snorkel to a shipwreck or scuba dive to a shipwreck. There is even a glass bottom boat that came here in 2011 to take people out. That takes about nearly 10,000 people a year out on that glass bottom boat. So that is pretty cool.”
It’s not like you can drive up and immediately see these shipwrecks.
“You have to tell the story of something that is below the waves. It’s a fascinating history. Here and on Lake Ontario, it’s the diversity of ship types. You have got everything from old wooden schooners to big freighters and all different types of ship construction represented in this world class archelogy collection at the bottom of the lakes,” she said.
Local students study the science and history of the Great Lakes. The Alpena High School has a program for about 10 years with the sanctuary called science and the sanctuary.
“We work hard to engage learners of all ages,” Gandulla said. “A lot of our successes have been made possible through partnerships — unique partnerships like Viking Cruise ships. That has really raised awareness about the work that the sanctuary does. We also work with NOVA, the PBS show. They filmed a show here [recently], a documentary. That is really a great way for people around the world, certainly around the country, to learn about these special places in our great lakes.
“Technology today really allows us to bring these important archeological sites to the surface. If you can’t dive — most people don’t dive 100 feet below the surface in 35-degree water — we can bring these stories to the surface and share them with virtual reality, photo models etc.”
