Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced the Maine Aquaculture Association in Hallowell has received a grant of $64,885 from USDA Rural Development. The grant will assist the Association in providing Maine aquaculture producers whose businesses have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic with direct assistance. 

“Aquaculture producers harvest fish and shellfish, species important to the health of both the Gulf of Maine and our state’s economy. Maine’s legendary shellfish products, including oysters, crabs and lobster, have historically been in high demand across the world,” said Pingree.“The COVID-19 crisis has closed restaurants and changed demand for these products, and Maine aquaculture farmers need support to weather this crisis. I’m proud that USDA Rural Development is assisting Maine aquaculture—these businesses are the backbone of coastal, rural communities.”

This investment will allow the Maine Aquaculture Association to work directly with aquaculture business owners and provide tools to help producers plan their next two years of their businesses’ futures in the wake of COVID-19.  

In 2014, Maine had 107 aquaculture business industry providers according to Maine Aquaculture Economic Impact Report from the Aquaculture Research Institute at the University of Maine, with a statewide economic impact of $136.7 million in output, $56.1 million in labor income, and 1,078 full- and part-time jobs.

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