The Common Flat is a special tidal area that has existed for thousands of years off of the “elbow” of Cape Cod. This area is a crucial habitat for diverse species – including marine mammals, migrating birds, shellfish, crustaceans and fin fish. 

Today, this sand bar is part of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Remarkably, human beings have played a positive role in this ecosystem through the millennia, by harvesting fish and shellfish with traditional methods. We all share a common interest in the Common Flat’s continued well-being as a vibrant natural habitat.