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ROCKPORT, ME - The trade show booths are full, the seminar agenda is packed, and the music is lined up, so it's time to make plans to attend the 26th annual Maine Fishermen's Forum and Trade Show here at the Samoset Resort March 1-3.
Whether you attend for the food and fun or for some of the more serious stuff -- like driving a hard bargain with one of the 100-plus exhibitors -- this year's forum promises to have it all.
Not only will it feature a "surprise guest auctioneer" at the Friday night benefit auction (this could be interesting), but lobster boat race enthusiasts will be able to set the stage for the 2001 race season at the annual Saturday morning race seminar.
Other seminars on herring, scallops, urchins, shrimp, and lobsters are scattered throughout the three-day event. A US Coast Guard safety session is planned, along with seminars on Maine's property tax referendum, marine protected areas, the Pew Oceans Commission, seaweed harvesting, and halibut.
Two day-long discussions have also been planned to give forum goers a chance to delve deeper into some of the more complex but stimulating issues facing industry members today.
The first, scheduled to run all day on Thursday, March 1 with a recap on Saturday, is titled: "Creating an Alternative Approach to Fisheries Management."
The second, titled "Identifying Maine's Collaborative Research Priorities," will run all day Friday. Kicking off with an overview of the research priority sessions held last spring by the Maine Department of Marine Resources on lobsters, urchins, scallops, shrimp, and clams, the goal of this session is to explore collaborative research priorities, evaluate experiences to date, and learn "how to bring ideas to reality."
Numerous people who have been part of industry/scientist partnerships are scheduled to participate in this session.
Lobsters and more
Among the several sessions planned for the lobster industry is one on lobster health issues, which is scheduled for Saturday morning following the boat race seminar. Discussion topics include:
- An update on the devastating Long Island Sound lobster mortalities;
- A shell disease update, covering the ongoing problem in New York, Rhode Island, and parts of Cape Cod;
- A description of past problems in Maine; and
- An overview of lobster health issues on Price Edward Island in Canada.
Furthermore, an official will be on hand at the lobster health seminar to answer questions that might surface over West Nile Virus spraying, which has been a source of concern among many industry members.
Need an update on Amendment 13 to the groundfish plan? One's on the docket first thing Saturday morning. How about some forward thinking on "What Seafood Markets Want in the Year 2020?" This Friday afternoon session will focus on the evolving seafood marketplace and what consumers could be buying in the future.
Highly migratory species fishermen will find their session on the agenda on Thursday afternoon. The seminar is titled: "ICCAT -- Allocation and Compliance."
More info
The forum will also feature its usual Thursday night fresh seafood opening reception, followed by "Monte Carlo night." A Friday night fish dinner is also planned just prior to the benefit auction.
Saturday night will wrap up with a live band -- a forum favorite, the High Ryder Golden Oldies Show -- at the traditional banquet and dance.
For more information, contact forum coordinator Chilloa Young at
(207) 442-7700.
