WELLFLEET – Wellfleet SPAT, Shellfish Promotion and Tasting has awarded $23,000 in relief funding to shellfishermen in response to losses they suffered due to a closure of Wellfleet harbor this past fall.
Shellfishermen were out of work for 32 days after the state shut down local shellfish beds as a precautionary measure due to a norovirus outbreak.
SPAT and the community came together to start a Shellfishermen Relief Fund at this year’s OysterFest.
More than $8,000 was collected for the fund since the fest.
The SPAT board first voted to add $9,500 to the fund to make more substantial relief available.
SPAT increased its contribution to nearly $15,000 and the $23,000 was distributed among 23 shellfishermen to provide relief for essential expenses before the holidays.