The Lubec Fishermen’s Memorial Committee has caused an uproar in Lubec, Maine, after failing to include the names of two fishermen, Chester “Chet” Barrett and his son Aaron — who drowned off Trecott, Maine, on January 18 — to those being engraved into the memorial.

According to the exact wording of the committee’s criteria, fishermen must be “actively fishing” when lost in order have their names added to the stone sculpture near the town’s harbor. The Barretts were in transit between scallop grounds with gear on board, but were left off the list due to committee members' unfamiliarity with fishing. According to Committee president, Barbara Sellitto, the committee was scattered, and she was traveling at the time the tentative decision was made.  

While Sellitto maintained that no final decision had been made, the absence of the Barretts on the list cast a shadow on a wreath-laying ceremony held at the Lost Fisherman’s Memorial on July 21.

Liz Michaud, who founded the non-profit Green and White Hope after her nephew was lost lobstering, had announced that “Maine Governor Janet Mills has proclaimed July 21, 2025, as Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day. The day will be dedicated to honoring the losses within the commercial fishing community, especially given that Maine has lost four fishermen so far in 2025.” 

Numerous representatives from organizations such as Fishing Partnership Support Services, Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association, and others came to Lubec for the event, but others opted out.

Stepahanie Chambers, Office Assistant at the Town of Addison, and sister to Chet’s widow and Aaron’s mother, Melanie Barrett, posted a statement on the Lubec Community Bulletin Board on FaceBook. Chambers urged the community to “take a moment of silence for the fishermen who were accepted for engraving: Dwayne Alley, Jaxson Marston, Alton Wallace, and for all names on the monument,” she also urged them “take a moment of silence for Chet and Aaron Barrett and all others lost at sea, the reason is irrelevant, the outcome will never change; they were ripped away from all of us in one moment of tragedy.” 

Lubec residents posting on Facebook are unanimous in their demand that the memorial committee reverse its decision and engrave the Barretts’ names on the Memorial. But Chambers wrote, “No matter the outcome of any future engraving decision, these little grains of salt are always going to remain in those wounds.” 

Sellitto noted that the committee will convene as soon as possible and seek a better understanding of their own criteria by contacting the Maine Department of Marine Resources for guidance. “We realize there are many aspects to commercial fishing, and we have decided to convene the committee in order to clarify the language ‘actively fishing’ and make a final decision on the Barretts' names as soon as possible.” 

“I have every reason to be encouraged that this wrong will be righted,” said Michaud. “It’s just so unfortunate that it’s caused a lot of pain and heartache for so many people and seemingly put a shadow on the monument that doesn’t need to be there. I want to do what I can to remove that tarnish as I live in Lubec, and I know the sincerity of intention by those that established it.”