PORTLAND (AP) – The federal government has awarded $5 million in disaster aid to help monitor and predict algae blooms that disrupt New England’s shellfish industry.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday it has approved plans for Maine and Massachusetts to spend $2 million each and for New Hampshire to spend $1 million.

The Portland Press Herald said the states intend to spend the money to help address algae blooms like those that caused last year’s red tide outbreak. Maine, for example, will invest in buoy arrays that help track red tide.

Large areas of the coast had to be closed last spring to harvesting of clams, mussels, oysters and other shellfish, triggering a federal disaster declaration in November.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, https://www.pressherald.com

AP-ES-05-14-09 1551EDT