The Great Marsh is famous for shellfish and recreational activities that benefit the local economy. The marsh also buffers against costly flood and storm damage and filters coastal pollutants.
The soft-shell clam fishery in the Parker River-Plum Island Sound estuary is by far the most valuable commercial fishery. In 1996 the commercial value of the soft-shell clam harvest in Ipswich, Rowley, and Newbury was over one million dollars. The financial impact of the clam can be felt along many economic lines; from the harvesters to the distributors, from the processors to the restaurant owners.
Increasingly, tourism and recreation are seen as major sources of money for the region. For example, a study conducted by the University of New Hampshire showed that local expenditures generated by the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge amount to approximately six million dollars annually (Gilbert, Laura, J. Halstead, E. Jansen, and R. Robertson. 1994. Economic and Social Impacts of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and its Piper Plover Management Program. New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, University of New Hampshire. Research Report).
Organizations and businesses that support the protection and preservation of the Great Marsh include the following.
Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Windsor House in Newburyport
If you are a business that supports the protection of the Great Marsh, please contact the Great Marsh Coalition by emailing the webmaster
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