No problem. Yes, you may eat fish on Fridays in Lent. As far as meat by-products, it isn’t explicitly stated, but I would avoid anything containing meat products as well such as soups, gravy, broth, etc. Eggs and cheese are not prohibited. Again, this is just in the US eparchies. Our Bishops chose, like some of the Byzantine Bishops in the US, to follow the same fasting regulations as the USCCB. Maronites outside the US have different requirements depending on their eparchy.
To explain a little further about fasting. To paraphrase someone else on this forum, the Western approach is to prescribe a minimum under penalty of sin while the Eastern approach is to prescribe the ideal and strive toward it. So, in other words, yes, there is a minimum that you need to be aware of, but you can always add to it and do more of a traditional fast. For example, you could add extra days (Wednesdays are also traditionally a fast day in the East), or you could decide that you are also going to not consume cheese or eggs, etc. Anything that you voluntarily remove from your diet for the sake of fasting is good, especially if it is something that you would struggle with not having. For example, in my case, it would be a much greater sacrifice for me to give up my coffee on a Friday than meat!
If you get a set of the Prayer of the Faithful books that you posted about (or use the website) you’ll notice that the prayers and qolos are also instructive. We learn our traditions, spirituality, etc. through our liturgy. Even if you pay close attention at Sunday Liturgy you’ll notice this, but you’ll have more exposure to it if you pray the office daily. Anyway, one of the themes you’ll pick up on is that lenten fasting in the Maronite church is not only done to help our spiritual life and prepare for the resurrection, but it is primarily done as penance for the remission of our sins.
Also, just FYI, even though there is no obligation to fast/abstain on Fridays outside of Lent, some people do. That said, there is no fasting or abstinence during the period between Christmas and Epiphany, and between Easter and Pentecost. These periods are considered extensions of the celebration of the solemnities. Similar to what the RC calls an “octave” but obviously longer duration.
If you have any other Maronite questions, please feel free to post them!
Btw = (By the way), I’m still learning texting abbreviations too.