AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has had two projects chosen to receive nearly $540,000 in federal funding as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s annual Competitive State Wildlife Grant program.

One of the grants will allow IFW to fill knowledge gaps on the basic ecology, distribution and abundance of 27 species of greatest conservation need in the Gulf of Maine.

IFW will identify areas of exceptional species diversity and develop digital maps of these important habitats in the Gulf of Maine.

Due to its high wind potential, Maine’s coast has drawn the interest of many offshore energy developers, meaning this data will be useful when trying to minimize the effects of wind turbines on these ecosystems.

The federal funds for this project, appropriated annually by Congress, amount to nearly $500,000 with $200,000 in additional nonfederal match funding.