DENNIS – The Aquaculture Research Corporation of Dennis, also know as ARC, is working on a deal involving the state and the Town of Dennis that, if approved, would see the preservation of 30 acres of conservation land near Chapin Beach.
With the help of state grants and town funds, the commercial shellfish hatchery would then be able to remain operational, with a purchase price around $3 million and the conservation land would be preserved for an additional $3 million.
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Director Bill Clark, who has been involved in the public/private partnership to save the shellfish hatchery, said the plan is to construct a new facility on the land.
“The building would be removed and replaced with a new state-of-the-art hatchery,” said Clark.
The ARC in Dennis is the only commercial shellfish hatchery in Massachusetts, he said.
“There are some smaller hatcheries in other states, that are sources of seed as well, but a majority of the seed comes from ARC and it’s integral,” he said.
Clark says $1.5 million of the $3 million will be to acquire the acres of land and the other half to build a new facility.
