Bristol Seafood

Heather Moretti said her top priority as waterfront coordinator will be “to help usher in a new phase for a thriving, dynamic waterfront in Portland, preserving our heritage industries while also welcoming innovation in the blue economy.”

Bristol Seafood, a well-known presence on the Portland waterfront, will be acquired by Mark Foods, a seafood importer, processor and marketer based in the Big Apple.

The Maine Seafood Reception, held in conjunction with the Seafood Expo North America, drew more than 200 industry attendees from across the United States.

The Portland seafood processor said the addition of Maine kelp industry leader Briana Warner will help support continued growth and innovation in its value-added products.

A first-ever economic analysis found Maine’s seafood sector had $3.2 billion in total output in 2019, the latest year available. The output was driven by retail sales, lobster harvesting and seafood processing.

Shipments will be distributed over the next two months to restaurants in Maine, Boston, Washington, D.C., and California. Bristol Seafood is processing the batch in Portland.

More Maine companies are looking to automated systems to speed operations, grow capacity, and in some cases fill in for workers they can’t find. But those aren't the only benefits, the businesses are discovering.

Bristol Seafood is opening an outpost at the collaborative workspace, just a half mile from its headquarters on the Portland Fish Pier. The seafood company is also sponsoring a program to attract new entrepreneurs to Maine's "blue economy."

Bristol Seafood has closed for cleaning and testing after five cases of COVID-19 were found among employees. Maine CDC continues to investigate the outbreak at the Augusta Maine Veterans Home construction site, involving people from multiple states.