Communities along the Maine coast will gather July 21 to honor commercial fishermen who lost their lives at sea during the first statewide observance of Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day since the designation became law.
According to the Boothbay Register, ceremonies will take place in Boothbay Harbor and Lubec, while remembrance wreaths will be placed at eight additional commercial fishing memorials stretching from Downeast to southern Maine, creating a coastwide tribute to fishermen who never returned home.
The Boothbay Harbor ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. at Fishermen's Memorial Park on Atlantic Avenue, followed by a reception at Mine Oyster on Pier One. A second ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the Lost Fishermen's Memorial in Lubec, with a reception afterward at the Lubec Masonic Hall.
The publication reported that this year's observance marks a significant expansion from last year's inaugural event following legislation signed into law March 19, 2026, officially establishing Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day. The law recognizes the sacrifices of generations of fishing families, honors those lost at sea, and encourages continued efforts to improve commercial fishing safety and preparedness.
In addition to the two ceremonies, wreaths will be placed at memorials in Pleasant Point, Stonington, Rockland, Port Clyde, Bailey Island, Georgetown, Chebeague Island and Portland.
"Maine's commercial fishing industry has shaped our communities, our economy, and our identity for generations," Liz Michaud of Green and White Hope told the Boothbay Register. "Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day is an opportunity to honor those we have lost, stand beside the families and communities who continue to carry their memory, and reaffirm our commitment to helping more fishermen return safely home."
Organizers say the statewide observance is intended not only to remember fishermen who have been lost, but also to encourage continued progress in commercial fishing safety through education, technology, preparedness and collaboration. The public is invited to attend either ceremony or visit one of the participating memorials on July 21.
