Marine Mammal Safaris Kicked Off a Beautiful Weekend in Boston

With a light sprinkle in the morning air and the promise of afternoon sun, 850 people from across the region joined Save the Harbor/Save the Bay on Saturday’s three Marine Mammal Safaris as a part of the Share the Harbor program. The overwhelming response and turnout topped any of the previous 15 trips, not to mention the copious amount of seals and porpoises spotted on each cruise.

Aboard Massachusetts Bay Lines’ boat Freedom, families, neighborhood groups, and individuals from Boston’s communities and beyond were eager to see what the clean water of the Boston Harbor had in store for them. As the rain subsided, the guests of the first and second cruises were able to see three seals out by the Fish Pier, and even caught a glimpse of the fin of a porpoise gliding sneakily by the Charlestown Navy Yard.

The last cruise of the day embarked onto the harbor with 75 degree sunny weather – a great turnaround from the projected overcast skies. Although the charismatic macrofauna were a bit more hesitant to appear for the passengers, as we motored over to East Boston, a plethora of seals and even a few porpoises made an appearance.

In the moments where there were no sightings of aquatic mammals, Save the Harbor staff donned their pirate hats and sang the sea chanty Haul Away Together to remind those around them that if they work together, just as the pirates did as they hoisted the sails, they can accomplish big things.

Those aboard were thrilled to be on the harbor for the first set of Share the Harbor cruises of 2019. In continuing our mission of sharing the harbor for the public to enjoy, Save the Harbor is hosting 7 more free cruises to Spectacle Island and Boston Light throughout the summer and fall months. Check out the remaining Share the Harbor cruise dates on our blog, which includes registration links.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay would like to thank Massachusetts Bay Lines for their generosity in hosting us aboard Freedom and making it possible to venture out onto the harbor for each safari, while also giving guests great information about their surroundings through historical narration.

For more info on Save the Harbor check out our blog, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on future events! See you all out on the harbor!

Save the Harbor's free Share the Harbor Cruises are made possible with Leadership Grants from the Cronin Development, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and Bay State Cruise Company.

Save the Harbor is also grateful for Leadership Grants from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, The Boston Foundation, The Coca-Cola Foundation, and Yawkey Foundation

Save the Harbor is grateful for Partnership Grants from Boston Properties – Atlantic Wharf, The Daily Catch Seaport, Davis Family Charitable Foundation, Eastern Salt Company, Inc., Engie, Fan Pier - The Fallon Company, John Hancock Financial Services, The HYM Investment Group, LLC, The Llewellyn Foundation, Massachusetts Environmental Trust, Massachusetts Port Authority, Mass Humanities, National Grid Foundation, P & G Gillette, Lawrence J. and Anne Rubenstein Charitable Foundation, William E. Schrafft & Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust, and Vertex.

Save the Harbor also appreciates Stewardship Grants from Anonymous, Forrest Berkeley &, Marcie Tyre Berkley, Camp Harbor View Foundation, Circle Furniture , Comcast, Copeland Family Foundation, The Cricket Foundation, Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, Davis Family Charitable Foundation, Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Charitable Trust, Enbridge, Tom & Lucinda Foley, Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation, Kershaw, Liberty Bay Credit Union, Lovett Woodsum Foundation, Maine Community Foundation, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Nicholson Foundation, RMR Real Estate Services, Rockland Trust Pavilion, Clinton H. & Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable Trust, Skanska, and Tishman Speyer

Save the Harbor would also like to thank our Program Funders Andus Baker & Rowan Murphy Family Fund, MA Attorney General’s Office Healthy Summer and Youths Jobs Program, The Paul and Edith Babson Foundation, Beacon Capital Partners, LLC, Cell Signaling Technology, East Boston Savings Bank, Highland Street Foundation/West End House, Legal Sea Foods, Miss Wallace M. Leonard Foundation, George Lewis - Haven Trust, Pabis Foundation, South Boston Community Development Foundation, Abbot & Dorothy H. Stevens Foundation, and TD Charitable Foundation.

Save the Harbor would also like to extend our gratitude to our Supporters 3A Marine Service, The Bay State Federal Savings Charitable Foundation, Andrew Calamare & Marianne Connolly, Cresset Group, Diversified Automotive, Goulston & Storrs PC, Mass Bay Credit Union, Massachusetts Marine Educational Trust, Randy Peeler & Kate Kellogg, Matthew J. & Gilda F. Strazzula Foundation, UDR, and Kyle & Sara Warwick

Special thanks as well to the hundreds of individual donors for their generosity and to our partners at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission, the Boston Centers for Youth and Families and the YMCA of Greater Boston for their support.