It’s been said Massachusetts is home to some of the best seafood, and Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) wants the rest of the country to get the message.

On Aug. 12, the Marine Fisheries Steering Committee launched the Seafood Marketing Campaign at the fifth annual Boston Seafood Festival. Gifford is one member of the 19-person committee, which is dedicated to promoting local seafood and supporting commercial fishermen.

“The hope is to make the commercial fishing industry in the commonwealth more viable,” said Gifford. “Most people know that because of ever-changing regulations and restrictions on catch, a lot of commercial fishermen, and shellfishermen, are suffering – a lot of people are choosing to abandon the industry.”

Gifford said the campaign aims to drum up business for Massachusetts seafood by educating people on sustainably caught fish and the health benefits of eating seafood.

“We want to get the word out about how fantastic Massachusetts seafood is, not just in the U.S., but globally,” she said.

The committee was formed in 2014. Its mission is to assist the Division of Marine Fisheries in the administration of its seafood marketing program, including strategic planning, financial management and identifying funding for program activities.

In addition to legislators such as Gifford, several people from the seafood industry were appointed by the committee, including representatives from wholesale seafood dealers, seafood restaurants, commercial fishing and the lobster industry. Gifford was appointed by House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, Jr., (R-North Reading) to the committee.