The 42nd Maine Fishermen’s Forum is fast approaching, and it looks to be another sold-out year for the Trade Show and the Samoset Resort. This annual event is a one-of-a-kind event created for Maine’s fishermen, and provides educational seminars covering topics from Aquaculture, Halibut Management, Coral Amendment discussion, Eastern Maine Skippers Program, DMR Lobster Science Update, and scallop aquaculture, to name a few.  A full seminar schedule with detailed descriptions is available at mainefishermensforum.org.  Attendance is free, and families are encouraged to attend.

This year’s event also features the largest trade show in the history of the Forum with exhibitors showing lobster traps, marine gear, new fishing gear, boatbuilders and dozens of others, as well.  They will be displaying their wares for fishermen, scientists and the managers who attend the show annually.  

Free skin cancer screening and free hearing testing is also available, as well as wellness checks provided by the USM College of Nursing program.  

As always, there will be a Scholarship Auction, a Silent Auction and Bucket Raffles, all to raise funds for Student Scholarships, to be awarded on Saturday night.  The Forum is highly unusual in that every penny raised for scholarships is awarded to the recipients.  To date, the Forum has awarded over $348,000 in scholarships to students from families involved in Maine’s fisheries.

Scholarship applications are still being solicited.  For any questions, contact Chilloa Young, Coordinator at (207) 442-7700, or by email at  coordinator@mainefishermensforum.org.