Growing up on the Cape, it wasn’t atypical to drive out on the beach, get a line wet and have a nice bass on the grill in a matter of hours. Although back then, it didn’t take a $ 100k blue ribbon panel to decide on a $ 750k bath house at a local beach parking lot either.
The first two cute and cuddly creatures are simple. The four or five plovers hatched on ORV territory simply shut down beach traffic until they meet a more natural and friendly demise such as a fox, coyote or passing storm. The shark is simply taking advantage of the best all you can eat venue the Cape has to offer which brings us to the cute and whimsical seal.
While it may be a treat to watch these seemingly harmless creatures bask in the sun on a flat or simply bob in the water, a much larger issue resides quite literally beneath the surface.
This year alone, fisherman saw a 70% reduction in quota. These fishermen aren’t the weekend ham and eggers out for sport and a quick bite but guys trying to pay their mortgages. At the same time, the seal population is growing at a rate of approximately 20% per year. I for one would be more than happy to except a check from a local municipality to draft an in depth analysis of what is occurring. The seals are decimating everything that swims save for the sharks and beach goers.
With little resolution is site, perhaps a $ 50.00 fish and chips special or previously frozen farm raised Tilapia looming in the near future will bring some folks around.
Best,
Jon
As a lifelong resident of the outer Cape I was the third generation to pick up the mantel in the family construction business. In my early twenties, I called the Cape my home on weekends as I spent several years working for a variety of off-Cape commercial construction companies. My site supervision resume includes two supermarkets, two HUD projects, a funeral home and a handful of steel industrial buildings as well as various restaurant and office remodels.