Communities from Downeast through Southern Maine will unite on Tuesday, July 21, to observe Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day, an annual day to honor commercial fishermen who have lost their lives while making a living on the water.

The observance at the Fishermen’s Memorial Park, Atlantic Avenue, Boothbay Harbor will be held at 3 p.m. followed by a reception at Mine Oyster, Pier One, Boothbay Harbor.

Each ceremony will include moments of reflection, remembrance, and recognition of Maine's commercial fishing heritage while bringing together fishing families, industry members, community leaders, first responders, elected officials, and supporters.

This year’s observance is the first statewide remembrance following the passage of legislation to make the day a law and represents a significant expansion of last year’s inaugural event.

Signed into law on March 19, 2026, Maine Commercial Fishing Remembrance Day recognizes the sacrifices made by generations of fishing families, honors those who never returned home, and encourages continued efforts to improve safety, preparedness, and survival throughout the commercial fishing industry.

A statewide planning committee made up of organizations and fishing community members have dedicated their time for several months to collaboratively design this day.

A Downeast Ceremony will be held at the Lost Fishermen’s Memorial in Lubec at 11a.m. followed by a reception at the Lubec Masonic Hall

In parallel, remembrance wreaths will be placed at eight additional commercial fishing memorials located in communities up and down the Maine coast to create a coastwide tribute to those whose lives have been lost at sea: 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," said Liz Michaud of Green and White Hope. "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."

The statewide observance is intended not only to remember those who have been lost but also to inspire continued progress in commercial fishing safety through education, technology, preparedness, and community collaboration.

The public is invited to attend either remembrance ceremony or visit one of the participating memorials on July 21 to pay their respects.

Green and White Hope is a Maine nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the lives of commercial fishermen lost at sea while working to improve survival through education, safety awareness, community collaboration, and the advancement of lifesaving practices and technologies.