ROCKPORT – Gov. Paul LePage said Friday that he will aid Maine’s fishing industry by continuing to ask the federal government for more flexibility, increasing the state’s processing capacity and working on ways to build and promote Maine’s brand.

His remarks came during the 36th annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum. About 200 fishermen, scientists, seafood processors, dealers and others crowded into a room at the Samoset Resort for the speech, which focused on their industry’s importance to the state’s economy.

The forum brings together people who work with Maine’s marine resources to discuss issues and meet with government officials.

“I can stand here as your governor and say everything is great out there, but it’s not enough,” LePage said. “My job as governor is to convince the agencies in government in Augusta to work very closely with you as a partner, not an adversary, and I pledge to you in the next four years that I am going to be saying, ‘What does the businessman need, want and what is he saying on how we can help them be more profitable?’ “

The U.S. government has to trust that states recognize the importance of the sustainability of natural resource-based industries, LePage said.

“For as long as there’s been a Maine, we’ve been great stewards of the marine resources. It’s a tradition that must continue, and it’s a tradition that we as Maine people need to push back against our federal government that is trying to get us off the waters,” he told the crowd, to applause.

Touting increases last year in Maine groundfish, lobster and salmon catches and profits, LePage said more must be done to add value to what Maine fishermen produce.

“We need to have processors so we can have the added value placed on the product in Maine, branded Maine products, and continue to remain the best seafood in the world,” he said. “We cannot move ahead if we continue to get the raw product to shore and then ship it to foreign countries to be processed. That is not going to be an option in our administration.”

Expanding the industry will provide more opportunities to young people who enter it, he said.

“The kids that are learning the ways of the water today need to have options so they can work in the industry and remain in the communities that they grew up in,” LePage said. “That is not happening today. Too many of our kids are leaving the state.”

After his remarks, LePage took questions from the audience. When asked if he could reduce the amount of required paperwork, he said he would do his best.

“There is certain information, certain data that we need in order to help manage the future of the industry, and so I ask you to be patient there,” he said. “One thing we are looking at now is limiting the numbers of permits or licenses that a person has to get.”

A lobsterman asked LePage how he feels about federal rules requiring lobstermen to use lines that are considered less likely to harm whales.

“The federal government has overstepped, and I am not going to say that whales have not got tangled up. I agree there’s some risk,” he said. “But I will say this, I am working for the people of Maine, not the whales of Maine.”

LePage also took a swipe at the state’s newspapers, saying he had promised his staff he “wouldn’t say this, but I just can’t help it.”

“A good senator in Augusta — a good friend, and I won’t tell his name because he’d be victimized, but he told me a little story — he said, ‘You know, buying a Maine daily newspaper is like paying someone to lie to you,’ ” said a chuckling LePage. “Frankly, folks, until they are going to get more objective, they are going to get as much wrath from me as they give me.”

MaineToday Media State House Writer Rebekah Metzler can be contacted at 620-7016 or at: rmetzler@mainetoday.com