Get Ready for the 51st Maine Fishermen's Forum

The 51st Maine Fishermen’s Forum takes place this year from March 5 to 7 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. The annual event brings fishermen, resource managers, nonprofit organizations, aquaculturists, scientists, students and the public together to discuss the pressing issues in New England’s fisheries and related industries.

Thursday, March 5

Thursday’s seminars largely focus on shellfish aquaculture and fishermen’s safety. The day kicks off with an update from Maine’s Shellfish Advisory Council followed by a panel presentation on marine electrification efforts in the aquaculture sector.

The quota for Atlantic bluefin tuna was expanded in 2025. Experts will speak about that increase and tuna fishermen’s cooperative research at a Thursday morning seminar.

Also on Thursday morning, fishermen and scientists will discuss growing interest in the commercial possibilities of a green crab fishery, including new markets for the invasive species.

In the afternoon there will be a seminar on Safety Preparedness for Fishermen, including how the safety of fishermen and their vessels can be improved through advanced preparation and training. Another seminar later that afternoon will focus on Improving Safety for Single-handed Fishermen and specific strategies and equipment that can improve a lone fisherman’s safety.

Friday, March 6

Friday begins with the 72nd annual meeting of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association at 9:00 AM. The MLA welcomes Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, the head of NOAA Fisheries, to discuss the agency’s approach to pressing issues such as right whales and reducing burdensome federal regulations. The annual meeting is an opportunity for MLA members to look back at Maine’s lobster industry in 2025 and understand more about the challenges and plans ahead in 2026. All members are invited to attend.

Also on Friday morning, a panel of experts will talk about the factors that led to the devastating January coastal storms in 2024 and the probability of similar storms in the future. They will highlight current coastal flood resources and methods coastal communities can use to mitigate future flood impacts.

The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative will give its annual update on its 2025 marketing program and the organization’s plans to increase demand for Maine lobster in 2026. In another morning session, students in the Eastern Maine Skippers Program from Knox, Hancock and Washington counties will give presentations on their individual school year research projects, including green crab fertilizer, aquaponics, cod coils for groundfish, sea water temperature changes and lobster catch in the Gulf of Maine, micro-plastics, and oyster aquaculture in the Union River, among other topics.

The Maine Working Waterfront Coalition will host a session providing an overview of the funding, projects, and policy changes that impact Maine’s working waterfronts. The session will focus on currently available opportunities for financial support for communities and working waterfront businesses as well as the work happening in the state to identify and inventory different types of working waterfronts.

Friday afternoon will feature the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) annual presentation on 2025 lobster monitoring and research work. The DMR Lobster Monitoring and Research Program collects data on the Gulf of Maine lobster population at different life stages through multiple long-term monitoring surveys, giving insight into the state of the lobster population and how it might change in the future.

Scallops are the subject of an afternoon workshop organized by the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation. Session participants will discuss with Maine scallopers the changes they are observing in the fishery to learn what they think would best improve the fishery’s resilience moving forward, and to co-develop strategies to adapt to potential future environmental changes.

Another session later that day, Outlook for the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Fishery, will highlight the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) 2026 work priorities for the Northern Gulf of Maine scallop fishery, which may include subdividing the scallop management area into sub-areas.

There will also be an open session with officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This annual session allows the audience to question high level NOAA officials and New England Fishery Management Council members on issues of science, policy and management. The seminar offers attendees an understanding of what to expect in 2026 and how to engage on upcoming management actions.

On Saturday morning members of the Maine Seafood Promotional Council will share key research findings which can help producers make informed marketing decisions, preview the state’s unified seafood marketing strategy, and outline the Council’s plan for expanding awareness and demand for Maine seafood.

A hands-on seminar specifically for fishermen will focus on Navigating Safety, Stress, and Strength at Sea. This interactive session offers fishermen practical, hands-on strategies. Participants will rotate through three stations, each led by safety, health, and well-being experts focusing on Musculoskeletal Health and Recovery; Stress and Allostatic Load; and Survival and Endurance Challenge.

Another Saturday morning seminar organized by the Lobster Institute offers an overview of five lobster research projects designed to answer long-running questions about various aspects of the industry. The panel of presenters includes fishermen and researchers speaking on their collaborative work.

A seminar on orchestrating a community response to a fishing emergency will draw on the newly-published Community Orchestration Guide to discuss ways to enable every Maine harbor to create a detailed emergency response plan for a commercial fishing incident that complements and does not replace existing state or federal protocols. The guide was collaboratively published by Green and White Hope, Inc, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Fishing Partnership Support Services, Sunrise County Economic Council, NEC, and the Maine Harbormasters Assoc. and draws upon ideas spawned with the Maine

Commercial Fishing Safety Council.

Saturday, March 7

On Saturday afternoon Maine’s gubernatorial candidates will take part in a candidate forum. The candidates for Governor will introduce themselves and discuss their thoughts about Maine’s commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors. The session also will give attendees the chance to ask candidates their own questions. 

Fishermen and others will speak at a seminar on ghost, or lost, gear removal projects. Speakers will provide examples of the technology used to recover lost gear. Participants are encouraged to join the discussion on how to improve ghost gear disposal around the Gulf of Maine.

There will also be a scallop aquaculture roundtable session Saturday afternoon as well as a public meeting of the Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council.

Health and Safety Events

USM School of Nursing hosts a Health Clinic at the Forum. Screenings include free blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and health screenings. There will also be an onsite dermatologist providing free skin cancer screenings and prevention information.

On Thursday from 1:30-4:30 p.m. a CPR/First Aid course will be taught by the American Safety and Health Institute, which provides Coast Guard Approved Certification. The course is by registration and costs $50. The Coast Guard’s Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Program will provide water safety training on Friday and Saturday mornings.