WHEREAS, every day, men and women along Maine’s coast leave safe harbors to go and fish for the diverse array of species with which the Gulf of Maine has been blessed; and
WHEREAS, lobstermen, ground fishermen, shrimpers, scallopers, sea urchin harvesters and others set out each day to pursue their livelihoods in a challenging and often treacherous environment; and
WHEREAS, sadly, there are inevitably some who do not return home. Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations one can pursue, and even the most experienced fisherman can fall victim to treacherous conditions; and
WHEREAS, 46 of Maine’s commercial fishermen have been tragically lost at sea since 1993, when a tradition of memorializing these individuals was begun at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum to ensure that they are not forgotten; and
WHEREAS, the Maine Fishermen’s Forum is a long-standing Maine institution dedicated to educating the public, fishing industry members and managers about marine resource issues and providing a neutral platform for constructive discussion and decision-making; and
WHEREAS, the loss of these brave and hard-working men reverberated through their communities and altered the lives of their family members forever. We acknowledge their passing with deep regret and express our sympathy to all who knew and loved them; now, therefore, be it