The Board of Directors of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum has submitted the following statement:

The Board of Directors of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum has made the difficult decision to cancel the Forum’s educational event and trade show originally scheduled for March 3, 4 and 5, 2022.

Forum Board President Steve Train explained, “We have concerns about ensuring health and safety in a venue that hosts thousands of attendees including families, fishermen, scientists, fishery regulators, trade show vendors and hotel staff especially given that COVID infections are currently on the rise in Maine. The decision to cancel did not come easy, but ultimately, we decided to err on the side of caution.

We look forward to 2023 when we can once again fulfill our mission of providing opportunities to educate the public and the fishing industry about fisheries issues and to provide a neutral platform for constructive dialogue.”

Forum Vice-President Jenni Steele added, “We will continue to fund raise for our annual scholarship and award as many scholarships as funds allow. Over the next couple of months our Board of Directors will investigate the possibility of providing a number of educational sessions that will allow for remote participation.”