ROCKPORT — The Samoset Resort Saturday was packed with people, all turned out for the 40th annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum. Today was the last day of the three-day forum. The day’s activities included the trade show and seminars and it all culminates tonight with a banquet dinner and a dance to cap off the weekend. 

The Maine Fishermen’s Forum is an annual event that focuses attention on issues affecting the state’s commercial fishing industry. 

The forum attracts several thousand people to the resort from fishing related businesses, government agencies, individual fishermen and public organizations that serve the industry.

The forum happens through a volunteer effort by people who donate time, equipment and services. 

Chef Jim Leverso, with his wife, Dee, was conducting one of the seminars at the resort for forum goers. Now in his 14th year of preparing food at the forum, he is not affiliated with any restaurant, but rather works for the Fishermen’s Forum conducting food classes. 

“We have lots of fishermen and fishermen’s wives in the audience,’ said Leverso. “They all have fish and seafood squirreled away in their refrigerator and freezers, so this years theme is rather than throw it away, we give creative ways to use it for a whole new meal.”

Although the forum is mostly about equipment and supplies available to commercial fishermen, this reporter was pleasantly surprise by the number of organizations representing health care and insurance options available.

There was a room offering free blood pressure screening and free skin cancer and hearing screening for the fishermen.

Ecology and sustainability played heavily into forums booths.

The following photo gallery high lights a small sampling of what was available at this year’s forum.