Atlantic herring are vital because they're used as bait by commercial lobstermen — who've been plagued by a bait crunch for years — as well as for food.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said Thursday that the herring industry in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island will get the assistance. More than $7 million is slated for Maine.

Raimondo said the assistance “will help affected fisheries and communities recover from disasters and make them more resilient to future challenges.”