Comment on Maine institute gets grant to boost access to local seafood

PORTLAND, Maine — A Maine research institute has received a $480,000 boost from the federal government for a drive to increase access to local seafood. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding the money to Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland for the project. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree says the institute will match that amount with $125,000. The goal of the project is to make quality and food safety improvements that will improve the market demand for seafood caught by New England’s fishermen, Pingree said.