Oyster Grant Expansion Doubles Brewster Program

BREWSTER – On Monday, the select board voted in favor of expanding the oyster grant program, adding an additional eight grant plots for a growing waitlist of shellfishermen. 

Natural Resources Director Chris Miller said the current program has around eight to nine commercial plots in use.

After reviewing the pros and cons of 12 potential locations, the department of natural resources narrowed it down to two that best fit the criteria: just east of Breakwater Landing and to the west of Linnell Landing, more specifically in front of the Spruce Hill conservation area. Both areas will contain four half-acre lease sites, essentially doubling the current program.

The DNR conducted a comprehensive evaluation of each town landing using criteria that included parking availability, competing uses, site access, habitat viability, recreational and commercial shellfishing, moorings, staffing needs, upland ownership and water quality. 

A memorandum was sent to Town Manager Peter Lombardi detailing the expansion. 

“The demand for shellfish aquaculture lease sites has grown significantly over the past 15 years, resulting in a waitlist of 25 applicants,” wrote Senior Natural Resource Officer Ryan Burch. “Brewster’s extensive intertidal zone — comprising approximately 3,700 acres of sandy bottom — combined with the well-documented ecological benefits of shellfish farming, presents an ideal opportunity for responsible expansion of private aquaculture activities.”

The new sites will be offered to the first eight people on the waitlist, pending their eligibility following an in-depth look at their ability to meet all criteria outlined in the town’s regulations. 

“The waitlist has been there for quite a long time without any movement, so there’s not a lot of incentive for people to get on a waitlist and then have to wait 10 to 20 years,” said Miller. “The people that are on the waitlist, we’ve talked with them, had a lot of discussion with them and they’re very eager to have this as a supplemental business to help them make a little money here on Cape Cod.”

The memorandum also outlined access, which will be by vehicle, foot or boat to both sites. The upland owner adjacent to the Breakwater Beach location has given permission and supports the expansion. 

The natural resources advisory commission voted in favor of the expansion at its Sept. 11 meeting.