The culture and economy of shellfishing
Shellfishing and aquaculture have been an important part of the culture and economy of Cape Cod for many years. Shellfishing is a major contributor to Massachusetts economy, and Cape Cod’s coastal economy also relies on recreational and commercial shellfishing, as well as the tourist and seafood industries (Ensuring a Shellfish Future, Maggio, 2015). On Cape Cod, the commercial shellfish aquaculture supports 1,400 jobs, 17,000 recreational harvesters (Legere, 2015) is valued at $12.5 million annually, and the demand for oysters and clams is growing annually (Fishermen's Alliance, 2015). In fact, the oyster production of Cape Cod and the entire east Coast in the past five years has doubled due to consumer demand for the bivalves. Due to this economic increase in the shellfishing industry, shellfishing aquaculture has recently been getting strong financial and regulatory support from the federal governments and state governments (Fishermen’s Alliance, 2015).
Shellfishing is a popular recreational activity for residents and visitors in many towns in Cape Cod, and is a valuable component of many towns economic growth …show more content…
The Aquaculture Research Corporation (ARC) is the only shellfish hatchery in the state of Massachusetts, and they produce 110 million oyster and clam seeds, known as spat, each year (Legere, 2015a). These seeds are used by thousands of shellfish farmers along the Northeast coast and into Canada (Legere, 2015a). They have been providing the region's commercial and recreational growers with shellfish since the early 1960’2 (Legere, 2015b). However, ARC has been struggling over the past several years, due to its aging facility and utility bills that top $150,000 annually (Legere, 2015a), which left the owners with for choice of paying for a major overhaul or closing their business (Legere,
Shellfishing and aquaculture have been an important part of the culture and economy of Cape Cod for many years. Shellfishing is a major contributor to Massachusetts economy, and Cape Cod’s coastal economy also relies on recreational and commercial shellfishing, as well as the tourist and seafood industries (Ensuring a Shellfish Future, Maggio, 2015). On Cape Cod, the commercial shellfish aquaculture supports 1,400 jobs, 17,000 recreational harvesters (Legere, 2015) is valued at $12.5 million annually, and the demand for oysters and clams is growing annually (Fishermen's Alliance, 2015). In fact, the oyster production of Cape Cod and the entire east Coast in the past five years has doubled due to consumer demand for the bivalves. Due to this economic increase in the shellfishing industry, shellfishing aquaculture has recently been getting strong financial and regulatory support from the federal governments and state governments (Fishermen’s Alliance, 2015).
Shellfishing is a popular recreational activity for residents and visitors in many towns in Cape Cod, and is a valuable component of many towns economic growth …show more content…
The Aquaculture Research Corporation (ARC) is the only shellfish hatchery in the state of Massachusetts, and they produce 110 million oyster and clam seeds, known as spat, each year (Legere, 2015a). These seeds are used by thousands of shellfish farmers along the Northeast coast and into Canada (Legere, 2015a). They have been providing the region's commercial and recreational growers with shellfish since the early 1960’2 (Legere, 2015b). However, ARC has been struggling over the past several years, due to its aging facility and utility bills that top $150,000 annually (Legere, 2015a), which left the owners with for choice of paying for a major overhaul or closing their business (Legere,