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<\/b>ROCKPORT, ME \u2013 The Maine Fishermen\u2019s Forum (MFF) turns 43 years old this March, promising a full roster of events (see page 44) at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine from Thursday, Mar. 1 through Saturday, Mar. 3.<\/p>\n<\/b>ROCKPORT, ME \u2013 The Maine Fishermen\u2019s Forum (MFF) turns 43 years old this March, promising a full roster of events (see page 44) at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine from Thursday, Mar. 1 through Saturday, Mar. 3.<\/p>\n
Regardless of which area of the commercial fishing industry happens to be your focus, few people attend the forum without at least one swing through the annual trade show, which runs Friday morning through Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Forum coordinator Chilloa Young reports that a record number of booths have been sold for this year\u2019s event \u2013 a mix of everything from diesel engines and lobster traps to boat builders, banks, bait dealers, and equipment suppliers of all kinds.<\/p>\n
A number of organizations will be holding their annual meetings at the MFF.\u00a0 Friday\u2019s schedule includes the Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association and Maine Coast Community Sector sessions.\u00a0 The Maine Elver Fishermen\u2019s Association and Alewife Harvesters of Maine annual meetings will be held on Saturday, along with the Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association\u2019s pre-season sit-down.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re staying on-site or commuting in to the forum, look for the First Coast mobile studio, which will be parked outside the Samoset for their \u201cVoices From The Maine Fishermen\u2019s Forum\u201d project.\u00a0 Inside this refurbished Airstream you\u2019ll find a staff of oral historians looking to record and preserve stories or thoughts about Maine\u2019s fisheries past, present, and future.\u00a0 All are invited to stop by between 10 am and 10 pm each day.<\/p>\n
Past attendees will tell you: the forum is the place to be if you enjoy good grub.\u00a0 Foodie-friendly events this year include the opening reception on Thursday evening (featuring fresh Maine seafood); Friday night\u2019s fresh fish dinner that leads into the MFF scholarship benefit auction; and Saturday night\u2019s banquet and dance with music once again provided by DJ Chris Grade.\u00a0 Plus, The Food Guys will return on Saturday morning with a tasty presentation titled \u201cLa Cucina Famiglia \u2013 My Family\u2019s Kitchen,\u201d exploring Chef Jim LeVerso\u2019s Sicilian family roots.<\/p>\n
A wide variety of seminars and discussions at this year\u2019s MFF offer something for everybody in the fishing community, starting with \u201cShellfish Focus Day\u201d on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s schedule also includes \u201cReel In Some Cash\u201d \u2013 discussions with three different panels focused on finding opportunities for fishing businesses to land more income.<\/p>\n
Lobster-related seminars over the three-day event include an eMOLT program update (Thursday); \u201cLobsters To Dollars\u201d and \u201cCan Right Whales And Fishing Rope Co-Exist?\u201d discussions (Friday); and Saturday\u2019s \u201cState of the Lobster Fishery\u201d and \u201cMaine Lobster Marketing Annual Report\u201d.<\/p>\n
Other scheduled sessions include a Herring Amendment 8 information update; a seminar on electronic monitoring; \u201cEmbracing Ecosystem Change\u201d and \u201cEcosystem Based Fisheries Management\u201d; and discussions on the scallop fishery in the northern Gulf of Maine, scallop aquaculture, and developing a viable green crab fishery in New England.<\/p>\n
The forum program will also offer a number of safety-themed items including \u201cSmart Hauling!\u201d (a chance to try out a variety of lifejackets and discuss your likes and dislikes) and USCG water safety training on Saturday,<\/p>\n
All seminar info was correct as of press time.\u00a0 For more information and\/or updates, please visit the forum web site www.mainefishermensforum.org<\/a> or contact Chilloa Young at (207) 442-7700 or by e-mail: <coordinator@mainefishermensforum.org><\/p>\n To get these complete stories and much more, you’ll need to purchase the MARCH\u00a02018\u00a0issue of\u00a0Commercial Fisheries News. \u2022 BUY a Single PRINT edition of CFN that is delivered by MAIL.\u00a0PRINT EDITION<\/a> \u2022 Quickly enjoy ONLINE access with our Hi-DEF flip-book.\u00a0<\/strong>PURCHASE THIS ONLINE EDITION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0Shop the\u00a0Online ARCHIVE<\/a><\/p>\n (Read online flip-book immediately with purchased access key and download a copy for yourself to keep. \u00a0Not sure if it works for you? Try a\u00a0FREE SAMPLE HERE<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/CFN-3_18-cover-243x300.jpg\")
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