Analyzing the economic impact of Rock Harbor 

Whether you're looking for one of the best spots to catch a sunset on Cape Cod, take a chartered fishing boat, grab some local seafood, take a day trip on the water, or spend time on the endless flats of Cape Cod Bay, you can find it all at Rock Harbor in Orleans. Home to a small fleet of local fishing boats, Rock Harbor is a popular spot for locals and visitors arriving by car, foot, or bicycle.  

In 2020, the Cape Cod Commission released a study on the economic value and need for potential capital improvements for harbors in Chatham, Dennis, Falmouth, and Provincetown. The Town of Orleans requested technical assistance from the Commission to conduct a similar analysis for Rock Harbor, examining the economic implications of landside and ocean-based activities on the harbor and nearby businesses and institutions. This analysis will help the Town better understand Rock Harbor's current economic impact, particularly regarding employment, commerce, and visitation.  

The analysis includes a business survey and an intercept survey to gather primary data. Commission staff conducted intercept surveys in July at various times, including mornings, afternoons, and evenings, as well as on weekdays and weekends. The intercept survey asked visitors at Rock Harbor a short series of questions to better understand the pattern of visitation and use of commercial and charter boats and to identify preferred routes and main attractions at the harbor for visitors, including cyclists. The business survey is still in the field and asks businesses around and at the harbor questions related to employment and harbor-dependent needs.  

Commission staff will use IMPLAN software – a regional economic modeling tool designed to estimate the local flow of money, goods, and services – to quantify harbor-related businesses’ employment's direct and indirect impact and additional ripple effects on the broader local economy.