Boothbay Harbor ceremony honors fishermen who have lost their lives at sea

Gov. Janet Mills speaks at Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day in Boothbay Harbor on Tuesday. (Courtesy of the Office of Governor Janet Mills)

The annual Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day ceremony in Boothbay Harbor on Tuesday honored commercial fishermen who have lost their lives while making a living on the water.

The ceremony honored the lives of four Maine fishermen who died on the water this year: Thomas West, of Steuben; Stephen Johnson, of Machias; Marshal Ames, of North Haven; and
Sgt. Freeman Short, of Presque Isle.

Gov. Janet Mills attended, along with Commissioner Carl Wilson of the Maine Department of Marine Resources; members of Green and White Hope, an organization working to advance commercial and local fisherman safety, education, and collaborative rescue and recovery efforts; local officials; the Maine Marine Patrol Honor Guard; and families and friends of fishermen who have lost their lives. State leaders who worked on the legislation also joined the ceremony, including Rep. Holly Stover (D-Boothbay), Rep. James Thorne (R-Carmel), Rep. Allison Hepler (D-Woolwich), Sen. Cameron Reny (D-Lincoln), Sen. Denise Tepler (D-Sagadahoc) and Rep. Holly Eaton (D-Deer Isle).

In March, Mills signed LD 2069 to permanently proclaim July 21 as Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day across the state.

“Every commercial fisherman in Maine risks their safety to make a living on the water for themselves and for their families, contributing at the same time to one of our most iconic industries and to our way of life,” Mills said. “It was my honor to sign legislation establishing Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day this March — making Maine one of the first states in the nation to do so — to remember the fishermen we have lost, honor their lives and offer our comfort to their loved ones, and recommit to doing everything we can to keep our fishing community safe from harm.”

Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day serves as a time to remember the deceased and honor their lives and contributions, and an opportunity to extend condolences to their families, friends and fellow fishermen.

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