Maine Sea Grant program funding is being 'renegotiated'
Millions of federal dollars that support the marine and coastal science and education program at the University of Maine known as Maine Sea Grant, may not be cut as had been announced late last week, after U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, intervened.
It’s not clear though exactly when the funding will be restored and whether the university will now be required to reapply for support. "We have been in close conversation with NOAA and are awaiting further guidance from them on next steps," Samantha Warren, a spokesperson for the University of Maine System, told Mainebiz.
The university was notified at the end of February that $4.5 million in federal funding for the program would be eliminated. Maine Sea Grant receives money from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state and other non-federal sources.
The cut was announced in the wake of hundreds of layoffs at the NOAA, part of the Trump administration’s budget trimming initiatives.
Collins said in a news release earlier this week that the Department of Commerce has agreed to pause the cuts and is directing the NOAA to “renegotiate the terms and conditions of the work to be performed by Maine Sea Grant to ensure that it focuses on advancing Maine’s coastal economies, working waterfronts and sustainable fisheries.”
According to the release, the announcement followed a conversation between Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Collins in which the senator explained what is at stake for Maine’s coastal communities with the loss of Sea Grant funding.
“I appreciate the Secretary’s willingness to work together to ensure that Maine Sea Grant can continue to conduct research, support a robust pipeline of skilled labor, and ensure that our coastal economies remain profitable hubs for fishermen, lobstermen, and hospitality workers,” Collins stated.
Department of Commerce Vice Admiral Nancy Hann, however, released a memo that does not guarantee the funding will go forward without oversight.
“The department is committed to engaging in bilateral negotiations to modify the year-two award requirements and related funding of the Maine Sea Grant omnibus award,” Hann wrote in the memo.
“The funding is contingent upon the availability of funds from Congress, satisfactory performance, continued relevance to program objectives, and will be at the sole discretion of the Dept. of Commerce,” the memo added.
University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy expressed optimism about the negotiations.
"The outpouring of support for Maine Sea Grant and the stories that have surfaced since Saturday of its incredible impact on our state's coastal communities and marine economy have been extraordinary and effective," Ferrini-Mundy told Mainebiz.
"We are deeply appreciative of Senator Collins' leadership and relentless advocacy on behalf of Maine Sea Grant and those it has long served," Ferrini-Mundy said.
"The University of Maine looks forward to discussions with the U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA in the coming days to determine a mutually agreeable work plan so that this critical federal funding can be restored and our science and outreach can continue to benefit Maine's working waterfronts and all who depend on their sustainability and success."
Maine Sea Grant was established in 1971. According to the university, in 2023 the program contributed $23.5 million in economic benefits and supported or created 332 related businesses and 565 jobs.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, commented about the threatened funding cut, “This program has long been a critical partner in supporting working waterfronts, advancing sustainable commercial and recreational fisheries, and preparing for the impacts of climate change.”
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