PORTLAND — Communities have been awarded almost $70,000 for marine-related projects by the Maine Coastal Program.

Melissa Anson, a spokeswoman for the program, which is administered by the state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, announced the grants in a press release July 23.

Included in the Shore and Harbor Planning Grants are:

• $10,000 for design and engineering services needed to convert a vacant lot on the Kennebec River in Bath into a cooperative fishing pier.

• $15,900 to look at options for creating a boat mooring field in Brunswick for nonresidents.

• $21,000 for design and engineering services needed to replace the Payson Pier in Cumberland.

• $22,500 to design new floats and docking areas for non-motorized watercraft at the East End Beach in Portland.

In all, nine communities will share in $163,000 of funding, which originates from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and Maine’s Submerged Lands Program, Anson said.

In the 10 years of the program, Anson said $930,000 has been distributed through 68 grants. Communities receiving grants must also provide a 25 percent match of local funds.