FALMOUTH – A recent budget cut by Governor Patrick could have an impact on local shellfishermen, as well as recreational fishermen.
Patrick has cut $100,000 from the budget that is allocated to towns to purchase shellfish seed. Local shellfish officials are asking the Governor to reconsider the cut.
“That money is really more important now than it’s ever been in the past,” said Falmouth Shellfish Constable Chuck Martinsen. “A lot of our tradesmen, a lot of the people that are also commercial shellfishermen are people that would do things like building, they bang nails, but they also shellfish as well,” Martinsen added.
Martinsen said there are about 75 commercial shellfishermen in Falmouth and over 2,000 people have recreational licenses in Falmouth.
“People come to Cape Cod for the fishing, for the shellfishing, for that way of life,” said Martinsen.
