PORTLAND — The Maine Maritime Museum, in celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2012, hosts its inaugural fishermen poetry event, “Voices of the Sea: The Poetry and Song of Maine’s Fishermen and Those Who Work on the Water,” from 5:30 p.m. to 7: 30 p. m. Thursday at DiMillo’s On the Water, 154 Commercial St.

The event will feature working fishermen, and others who earn a living on the sea, sharing their original works in poetry and songs that examine their waterborne careers.

Among the poets and singers presenting their work will be Frank Gotwals, a lobsterman from Stonington; Stefanie Alley who lobsters out of Islesford; Jack Merrill, a lobsterman who serves on the board of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association; and Kendall Morse, a former Coast Guardsman turned folk musician and humorist.

Joining the fishermen on stage will be folksinger and sailor Gordon Bok.

“ This promises to be a great kickoff to what we hope will become an annual event, and there couldn’t be a more perfect venue than DiMillo’s for ‘ Voices of the Sea,’” Maine Maritime Museum Director of Public Programs Jason Morin said in a release about the event. “When you talk about commercial fishing, the restaurant is the enduser, the end of the chain that starts with the working fishermen.”

Admission to the event is $5 for museum members and $7 for nonmembers. Advance reservations are recommended. Tickets are available online at MaineMaritimeMuseum.org.

A cash bar will be available during the event.