Moran Amendment Invests 5 Million In Aquaculture Innovation

BOSTON – The Massachusetts State Senate has unanimously passed An Act Enabling Partnerships For Growth authorizing $375 million in funding for economic development initiatives across Massachusetts.

The bill included an amendment from Plymouth/Barnstable State Senator Susan Moran that creates an aquaculture incentive program within the Department of Agriculture Resources and provides $5 million dollars in funding to start the program.

“Aquaculture provides economic opportunity throughout the Plymouth and Barnstable district and across the commonwealth,” said Moran.

The amendment authorizes the creation of an aquaculture innovation program to provide grants to municipalities to encourage increased opportunities for ocean farmers, including innovative permitting, re-zoning, resource surveys, mapping, demonstration farms, and stakeholder engagement.

The bill will now be reconciled with a similar version passed by the House of Representatives on July 29^th before being sent to Governor Charlie Baker.