First national fishermen's memorial day to be held in Grimsby
Grimsby is to host the UK's first national Fishing Remembrance Day, a charity has announced.
The annual event will commemorate those who died while working at sea, the Fishermen's Mission has said.
A service is due to take place at the Lost Fishermen's Memorial, in St James' Square, at 14:00 BST on Sunday with events taking place across the country.
Chief executive Marc Evans said a national day was needed to bring fishing communities together.
"From experience, we know how every loss affects families, friends, and whole communities. We know how this loss lingers from generation to generation," he said.
"To finally have a national day that allows us to come together and remember so many fishermen who have lost their lives while bringing home the catch is momentous for everyone connected with fishing."
Among those attending the event in Grimsby will be Mark Spencer, the Food, Farming and Fisheries minister and Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici.
According to The Seafarers' Charity, fishing is "one of the most dangerous professions in the UK" with 11,000 people working on fishing vessels in "a harsh and unpredictable environment to bring ashore much needed seafood".
Deborah Layde, chief executive of the charity, said: "Having grown up in a fishing community in Cornwall, I am extremely aware of the impact of losing a loved one to the sea.
"That is why The Seafarers' Charity is committed to improving fishing safety so that no more lives are lost.
"I am honoured to be laying a wreath and paying my respects to everyone that has been lost at this first ever National Fishing Remembrance Day service in Grimsby."
Services are also being held in other coastal towns in Cumbria, Cornwall, Dorset, Norfolk and Yorkshire including Bridlington, Boston, Portsmouth, Weymouth and Whitby.
Tim Hill MBE, chief executive officer of Stella Maris charity said: "Fishers work in dangerous conditions and for long hours so that society can enjoy and savour their catch in homes and restaurants, their labours are not always fully appreciated.
"It's only right that a special day has been set aside to remember those lost at sea doing this important work."
The national fishermen's memorial day comes after Hull East MP Karl Turner called on officials to commit funding to facilitate such an event in 2021.
He had said every year hundreds attend a service to mark Hull's Lost Trawlermen's Day and a "formal nationwide recognition" was long overdue.
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