The Maine Fishermen’s Forum kicks off this Thursday with a special celebration of its 40th year.

The three-day trade show and conference starts at noon on March 5 at the Rockport Samoset Resort with a Seafood Celebration featuring chefs Barton Seaver (Esquire’s Chef of the Year), Dave Pasternack (Esca Restaurant in New York), Brian Hill (Camden’s Francine Bistro) and Lynn Archer (Rockland’s Brass Compass), all of whom will be sharing their tips for showcasing Maine seafood. The 12-4 event is open to the public. You can RSVP at [email protected].

On the heels of the free Seafood Celebration the forum will host its annual seafood reception from 5 to 7, which will feature a raw bar; iced tables of lobster, shrimp and crab; and hot dishes to boot. Tickets for the reception are $25 and should be purchased in advance. Get all the details at www.mainefishermensforum.org.

As usual, the conference side of the fishermen’s trade show is packed with topics that hit home for Maine’s coastal fishermen, including safety training, marketing, groundfish management, green crabs, seaweed, elvers, alewives, climate change and, yes, Lobster Boat Races.

Don’t forget to stop by our booth in the State of Maine room to renew your subscription at our show special rate. We’ll see you in Rockport!