$2 Million for UMaine Aquaculture Demonstration Farm Secured by Senator Collins
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for a new aquaculture demonstration farm at the University of Maine (UMaine) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill. Congress has passed the bill, and the President has signed it into law.
“Creating sustainable opportunities for Mainers is critical to expanding the aquaculture industry and preserving our State’s rich history in seafood production,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will support a demonstration farm for shellfish aquaculture at the University of Maine, which will help kelp, seaweed, and oyster farmers learn ways to reduce their carbon emissions. As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to secure this funding, which will provide a vital environmental and economic boost to Maine’s growing aquaculture industry.”
“With 3,500 miles of coastline, a nationally important sustainable aquaculture industry and world-class research and development capacity at the University of Maine, our state is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in the growing farmed shellfish and seaweed sector," said University of Maine Agatha B. Darling Associate Professor of Oceanography Damian Brady. “With this federal funding, university innovators will explore new methods of production to enable Maine’s sea farmers to increase the yield and value of their harvest while improving our natural resource economy and the health of our waters.”
This project will support the construction of a pilot scale kelp and shellfish aquaculture demonstration farm in South Bristol to support the development of innovative industry technologies and practices.
This funding is part of the 231 targeted investments Senator Collins secured through the FY2024 appropriations process, driving more than $577 million to the state for initiatives throughout each of Maine’s 16 counties.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins secured more than $500 million for hundreds of Maine projects for FY2022 and FY2023. As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championingtargeted investments that willbenefit Maine communities.
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