Maine Fishermen’s Forum celebrates 40 years

ROCKPORT, ME – The Maine Fishermen’s Forum (MFF) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with a jam-packed three days scheduled at the Samoset Resort from Thursday, March 5 through Saturday, March 7.

A highlight of this year’s bigger-than-ever Forum Trade Show will be the appearance of Capt. Dave Carraro from the National Geographic Channel’s Wicked Tuna.  Carraro will be on hand in the SW Boatworks booth on Saturday of the forum.

Sample seminars for this year’s MFF span the gamut from trap to table (see listing on facing page), covering everything from life raft and survival suit training to discussions on marketing and consumer awareness.

A very special event beginning at noon on Thursday celebrates the “other end” of the commercial fishing industry.

“Chefs Celebrate Local Maine Seafood” is being touted as “a star chef-studded seafood immersion experience” that combines entertainment with education.  Attendees will be treated to seafood preparation master classes with four acclaimed chefs who will share their favorite Maine seafood recipes.  (Foodies will also enjoy the return of The Food Guys on Saturday.)

The Maine Lobstermen’s Association, Alewife Harvesters Of Maine and Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association annual meetings have become forum traditions; this year the Maine Elver Fishermen’s Association joins them with its first annual sit-down.

Other scheduled sessions include “What’s Ahead For Groundfish Management?” along with seminars on electronic monitoring, aquaculture for fishermen, an eMOLT program update, and perspectives on cod, scallops, and the Maine seaweed industry.

There will be an opportunity for an open forum with NOAA Fisheries Leadership Team members on Friday afternoon.  And shrimp fishermen take note: a public hearing is scheduled for Saturday at the forum regarding Amendment 3 to the Northern Shrimp Fishery Management Plan.

The three evenings of the forum are just as event-filled as the days are, beginning with Thursday’s opening seafood reception (featuring fresh fare from along the coast) and silent auction to benefit the forum scholarship fund.

Bring your appetite and your competitive streak with you on Friday night: after the fresh fish dinner, auctioneer Dennis Damon will take the podium for the annual scholarship benefit auction.  The forum board of directors hopes to set a new dollar record this year in honor of the event’s 40th anniversary.

And, as always, the festivities conclude on Saturday night with the annual forum banquet and dance with DJ Chris Grade returning to spin your favorites.

All seminar info was correct as of press time.  For more information and/or updates, visit the forum web site <www.mainefishermensforum.org> or contact
Chilloa Young at (207) 442-7700 or by e-mail at <chilloa@taxbracket.com>.  /cfn/

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Read the rest of this story and much, much more in the March issue of Commercial Fisheries News.  Buy this issue or Subscribe.

(Read online immediately with access key and download for future reference.)

 

 

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