The 39th annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum is fast approaching, and the exhibitors and attendees are gearing up for the February 27, 28 and March 1event held every year at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. Captain Keith Colburn from the hit TV show “Deadliest Catch” is our featured guest, and a solo speaker for the Thursday seminar.

More than 30 seminars are offered during the course of the forum and they are free to the public and cover a variety of subjects. Friday’s seminars offerings feature informative sessions on the green crab invasion, colored rope and how it might be used to lessen whale entanglements, an update on the Marine Stewardship Council, applying for funds from the Maine Working Waterfront access program, and an open forum with NOAA Fisheries leadership, among others. Saturday’s offerings include the Eastern Maine Skippers Program, “Increasing your Chances of Survival in The Atlantic Ocean,” aquaculture pportunities, GEARNET and the 2014 bait update to name a few of the seminars.

The Forum Trade Show has 120 exhibitors this year, and they have come from as far away as Texas, Washington State and Canada. Their specialties range from lobster traps to marine supplies, custom floats, outboard engines, hydraulic gear, lobster bait, marine safety education, marine engines, boatbuilders, and so much more. We are even featuring a first-ever catamaran workboat vendor, sure to garner some interest. The Trade Show will be open to the public from 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. February 28 and March 1.

The U.S. Coast Guard will be offering life raft and immersion suit training for fishermen on Friday and also a Kids’ Survival Training in the Samoset pool on Saturday.

The forum’s annual scholarship benefit auction will be held on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Samoset Resort at 7:15 p.m., and features Dennis Damon as the auctioneer extraordinaire! All money garnered by the auction will be used to help fund scholarships which are drawn on Saturday, March 2. To date, the forum has awarded over $254,500.00 in scholarships.

There are a huge variety of items available in the auction from lobster traps, original artwork, jewelry, Bruins tickets, handmade quilts, bait, hauling discs, hotel and B&B gift certificates, and so much more! Attendance is free, and competitive bidding is highly encouraged.

The board of directors is seeking additional scholarship applications for the annual scholarship drawing. Applicants must be attending their second year of college or a secondary school, and have an immediate family member involved in Maine’s seafood industry to qualify. Applicants should go to the website for applications

The Maine Fishermen’s Forum is a nonprofit organization, and welcomes any donation to this worthy cause. Any questions should be directed to Chilloa Young, forum coordinator at 207-442-7700, and the website is also a great contact point for information; www.mainefishermensforum.org.

The Maine Fishermen’s Forum is a remarkable annual event for fishermen from the State of Maine. It is open to the public and the Trade Show and seminars are free to attend! We hope to see you there!