Aquaculture firm working with UMaine awarded federal grant, AP reports
The Associated Press reported an Augusta firm that manufactures aquaculture pens will receive about $100,000 from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving InnovaSea Systems a Small Business Innovation Research grant to research whether its pens can be made using a strong and stiff composite lumber, as opposed to high-density polyethylene plastic, according to the article. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said the project combines two important industries in the state: wood-based composites and marine construction. The company will work with University of Maine researchers to test the effectiveness of the composite in the lab and ocean, the AP reported. The Washington Times and Portland Press Herald carried the AP report.