Sunday 12 May marked the UK’s inaugural National Fishing Remembrance Day, a new annual event honouring those who have lost their lives while working in the fishing industry.
The Seafarers’ Charity, Fishermen’s Mission, and Stella Maris joined forces to develop and support this new event which saw services held at 24 fishing memorials around the UK and Channel Islands.
Despite advances in safety measures, fishing remains one of the most perilous occupations in the UK, with recent tragedies occurring off the coasts of north-east Scotland and southern England in 2023.
“With the active participation of UK government officials, fishing industry representatives, maritime welfare charities, and local fishing communities, this National Fishing Remembrance Day truly embodies our collective dedication and determination to ensure that future generations of fishers can work in safer conditions,” said The Seafarers’ Charity’s chief executive, Deborah Layde.
The charities teamed up to organise the events as well as generate interest. Thanks to these efforts the day’s gatherings were supported by stakeholders including DEFRA, the Department for Transport, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, HM Coastguard, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Marine Management Organisation, Seafish, Royal Museums Greenwich, British Ports Association and even the government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
As part of the initiative, The Seafarers’ Charity has worked with Royal Museums Greenwich to develop an interactive map, showing fishing memorials across the UK to raise awareness of the sacrifices made and preserve their legacy for generations to come.
