February 12, 2021 — The following was released by The Office of Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH):
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) led a group of ten lawmakers in a bipartisan call requesting the inclusion of $100 million in funding for the National Sea Grant College Program in the next COVID relief package.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our coastal communities, and in particular, the marine and aquaculture industries, have experienced severe negative economic impacts due to decreases in exports and sales to restaurants.
Local Sea grant programs have been instrumental in supporting these communities. NH Sea Grant has been able to leverage their funding and expertise to provide fisheries with additional information to help sustain their businesses, assist business owners in tourism and other coastal-dependent industries, and collaborate with local leaders to make better informed decisions for struggling communities.
“Across the country, Sea Grant programs have played an instrumental role in supporting our coastal communities and fisheries who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congressman Pappas. “Here in New Hampshire, Sea Grant’s efforts allowed many growers to stay afloat by utilizing their oysters for research and habitat restoration while infusing more than $75,000 in relief funds to local growers who were unable to sell their goods at the markers. Our coastal communities have a long road ahead of them to full economic recovery, and I am proud to lead this bipartisan call to increase funding for National Sea Grant programs across our country.”