For years, teachers and guidance counselors at the Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus in Sullivan worked diligently to give students who fish a broader outlook on possible occupations other than a life on the sea.
But Whytne Crabtree, a career education teacher, decided to take a different tack.
Crabtree oversees Sumner’s MELMAC Education Foundation grant, which helps students develop educational and career aspirations in preparation for life post-high school.
“But there was never anything comparable for students who fish,” she said.
Crabtree thought taking students out on boats would require lots of permission slips and supervision. So that was out. But then she came up with the idea of hosting a regional event for other students who fish.
“These students have real assets and lives,” she said. “They’re 35-year-olds in 17-year-old bodies. I decided to have them lean into it.”
What resulted was the inaugural Marine Trade Forum for students in Hancock and Washington counties. The March 12, 2025, program drew about 60 students to what could be considered training wheels for the legendary annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum in Rockport.
The students sought guidance from older fishermen in the community in planning the agenda and format. Last summer, the students also formed the 12-member Sumner Fishing Council.
Whytne proudly noted that these dozen students plan to attend the Maine Fishermen’s Forum this March and hold a second Student Marine Trades Forum, the latter funded by a chowder dinner fundraiser they held in Winter Harbor in October.
Whytne said the feedback from students following the Marine Trade Forum made it clear they were on the right track.
“They said thanks for giving them a chance to listen to people about something they are really interested in,” she said. “This group was really formed because of student interest and commitment to the fisheries and making sure they have information they need for their future on the waterfront.”
Three of the organizers said the experience of holding their own forum and then attending the longer-standing gathering in Rockport is laying the groundwork not only for fishing and keeping up with new rules and regulations, but also to network with others who in the future will be much more politically active in the fishing industry.
Dawson Hunt Jr., of Corea, is a generational fisherman who shares a boat with his brother, Gavin, a 2024 Sumner graduate. Harrison Richardson, a senior and first generational fisherman, has his own boat, fishes out of a few harbors, and is sternman for others. Ian Thomas, who has his own boat and fishes with his grandfather in Winter Harbor, is technically a junior but will be able to graduate in 2026 and get a head start on fulltime fishing.
Hunt said it is more challenging to break into the industry today and to set oneself up for success. There is the acquired knowledge of where to set traps and learning from others who have developed sustainable businesses.
As a backup, Hunt is planning to attend Maine Maritime Academy and enroll in the marine engineering operations program.
He said it’s gratifying to be working on developing a school-based program that ties in directly with his passion for fishing.
“In the past the school pushed us away from it,” Hunt said. “We’ve never seen a group to support what we’re doing. Now we can talk about it, learn about it.”
Richardson said he’s worried about the rising cost of gear and bait and the expense overall of breaking into fishing as a livelihood. Becoming politically astute, he said, can only help.
“We’re the future workers and we will be making the rules,” Harrison said.
Thomas said the talk is pretty much the same wherever they go.
“We get together and talk about lobsters, how we’re doing, and safety,” Thomas said. “There is always someone talking about marine safety.”
Both Harrison and Thomas, like Hunt, have a back-up plan in place as well. They are training in the diesel program at Hancock County Technical Center in Ellsworth.
