Welcome
Please join us at the 2024 Maine Fishermen’s Forum starting on Thursday, February 29, running through Saturday, March 2 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine.
This is the largest event of its kind in New England – one dedicated to offering fishermen, clammers, lobstermen, aquaculturalists and other related seafood industry participants an opportunity to meet on neutral ground with fisheries managers, state representatives, Congressmen and Senators.
Now in its 49th year, the Forum is a family-friendly event with offerings for everyone.
The Forum is free to attend! Register online in advance — attendee registration opens January 2, 2024.
Open Events
Trade Show
With over 120 suppliers of commercial fishing equipment and services exhibiting at the Forum each year, plan to shop for products and services you need, some offered at Forum-only discounted prices.
Seminars
Attend our seminars to participate in the conversations or sit in to listen and learn. We offer three days of programmed seminars covering a wide range of topics such as the health of the lobster resource, commercial fishing safety, upcoming regulatory actions, and much more.
Children’s Program
We are a family-focused event with a full suite of children’s activities. We offer opportunities for children and teens to swim, play games, watch movies, and participate in group events like arts and crafts and scavenger hunts.
Health Clinic and Safety Trainings
USM School of Nursing hosts our Health Clinic each year. Screenings include: free blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and health screenings. In addition to the health clinic, we offer an onsite dermatologist providing free skin cancer screenings and prevention information.
The Coast Guard’s Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Program will provide water safety training on Friday and Saturday mornings.
Ticketed Events
Evening Events
Tickets for our evening events go on sale January 2, 2024
Tickets will be available for sale here beginning January 2, 2024. Tickets to each evening event are sold separately. We expect to sell out and recommend you purchase tickets early. Sign up for our e-news if you would like to receive an email reminder when tickets go on sale.
Thursday Seafood Reception and Silent Auction
Thursday, February 29, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
This lively reception features a gorgeous bounty of Maine’s finest seafood donated by fishermen and organizations from across Maine.
Friday Fish Dinner and Live Auction
Friday March 1, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
A delicious sit-down meal featuring truly fresh fish – haddock from the Portland Fish Exchange – and prepared by the Samoset Resort’s kitchen.
Saturday Banquet, Forum Wrap-up, and Dance Party
Saturday, March 2, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
A banquet dinner is served at our Forum wrap-up event, followed by a dance party.
Children’s Meals
We also offer three evening children’s meals. Pre-registration and payment for the dinners is required, with signup forms located onsite at the forum registration desk
First Aid and CPR
A CPR/First Aid course (Coast Guard Approved Certification by the American Safety and Health Institute) will be held at the Samoset once again this year, sponsored by the Maine Fishermen’s Forum. The cost is $50 per person.
Auction and Scholarship Awards
Donate to the 2024 Scholarship Fund
Our annual silent auction on Thursday evening and our live auction on Friday evening raise money for scholarships for secondary school students from Maine fishing families. 100% of the money raised in our auctions goes to students.
Please consider making a cash contribution to the fund, or donate an item to the auction. Your donation to our 501 ©(3) is tax deductible.
Apply for a Scholarship
We encourage all eligible secondary school students from Maine fishing families to apply for a Maine Fishermen’s Forum scholarship. Candidates must complete the Forum application, be in at least their second year of college or a vocational school, and submit a transcript along with the application.
Each year at the forum the directors announce scholarship recipients at the Saturday evening banquet event. Funding for these awards is donated by Forum attendees, fishermen, and organizations.
Logistics
Samoset Room Reservations
Rooms at the Samoset Resort go on sale January 2, 2024 and are expected to sell out within a few weeks. If you would like to receive an email reminder when the Samoset reservation system opens, please fill out our contact form.
Other Places to Stay
In addition to the Samoset Resort, there are a variety of wonderful lodging options in the greater Rockport area.
Directions and Parking
Parking at the Samoset typically overflows. Additional Parking is available at Harbor Plaza, 235 Camden St., Rockland. We provide a shuttle service that runs from Shaws Supermarket to the Samoset on Friday and Saturday.