Meetings Ahead
Most meetings in Wellfleet are remote only, but some are held in person. Go to www.wellfleet-ma.gov/calendar and click on the meeting you want to watch, then follow the instructions on the agenda.
Thursday, Feb. 9
- Housing Authority, 10 a.m.
- Nauset Regional School Committee, 6 p.m., Middle School Auditorium
Monday, Feb. 13
- Shellfish Advisory Board, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 15
- Conservation Commission, 5 p.m.
Conversation Starter
Subdividing Grants
Two 3-acre shellfish grants on Indian Neck that opened up earlier this year will now be four 1.5-acre grants after the select board voted to subdivide them during its Jan. 31 meeting.
Aquacultural Research Corp. previously leased grant #792 on Indian Neck but forfeited it because the company is not considered domiciled in Wellfleet, which town regulations require. Grant #01-06 was held by Allison and Buddy Paine, who were not meeting minimum productivity requirements.
The four grants are all deep-water and are accessible only by boat, said Shellfish Constable Nancy Civetta during the shellfish advisory board’s Dec. 19 meeting.
A date for a lottery for the four grants has not been decided, Civetta told the select board.
The creation of the grants comes only a month after a lottery was held on Dec. 20 for two grants on Egg Island. There were 19 applicants for those grants; Karen Johnson and Rosh Shermer won.
The number of applicants for the Egg Island lottery revealed a high demand for grants, said advisory board member Nick Sirucek, which informed the subdivision of the ones on Indian Neck.
Even with the difficulties that come with deep-water farming, the lottery showed how coveted any parcel of ocean bottom is in Wellfleet. “Everyone that entered the lottery knew they required a boat, and it didn’t keep anyone away,” said Johnson.
During the meeting, Civetta noted that future grant holders will have to complete the same steps as they would for a never-before-used grant location.
“There’s a lot of work to these grants,” Civetta said. “There’s no way that they will be farmed this year. I would be surprised if it happens next year. But it’s a wonderful opportunity.” —Sam Pollak
