BUCKSPORT, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) visited several aquaculture and seafood processing facilities in Hancock County to meet with staff and hear their thoughts on the future of Maine’s marine economy. Senator King’s day included tours of Maine Coast Sea Vegetables in Hancock, Maine Shellfish Company in Ellsworth, and Greenhead Lobster and Pemaquid Mussel Farms in Bucksport.

“Maine’s working waterfronts and hardworking fishermen have powered our state’s economy for generations,” said Senator King. “Processing facilities, like those I visited today, help deliver fresh seafood from the Gulf of Maine directly to dinner plates around the globe. The processors, dealers, and fishermen who make up Maine’s marine businesses are taking generations' worth of knowledge and using it to develop new sustainable ways to produce seafood and foster emerging industries like aquaculture. Today, I’m proud to celebrate our “blue economy” and its vision for a viable and innovative future.”

Frequently seen around the United States Capitol in one of his signature lobster ties, Senator King is a strong advocate for sustaining and growing Maine’s marine economy. In October 2019, Senator King launched his two-week Maine work period with visits to Atlantic Sea Farms and Ready Seafood. In May 2019, he visited Atlantic Sea Farm’s partner Bangs Island Mussels to highlight aquaculture as an emerging industry that can make significant contributions to Maine’s overall economy.

In September 2019, he joined the Maine delegation to make recommendations to federal fisheries officials for changes to proposed regulations on the Maine lobster industry. In June 2019, Senator King led the Maine delegation in urging President Donald Trump to provide relief to members of the lobster industry affected by the ongoing trade war with China – just as American agricultural farmers received government support to mitigate negative economic consequences.

Through his time in the Senate, Senator King has fought for Maine’s lobster economy as it faces a number of threats. In an op-ed in the Ellsworth American, he highlighted the threats posed by regulations, tariffs, and climate change to Maine’s iconic industry. As a founding member of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, Senator King is a leader in addressing climate issues, working to ensure that the environment is able to support Maine’s natural resources. Relatedly, Senator King strongly opposed the Administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. In July 2019, he spoke on the Senate floor to urge his colleagues and the nation to act to mitigate the threats to lives and vital environmental concerns. In 2018, he strongly opposed a Department of Interior proposal that would open up the Gulf of Maine to offshore drilling.