When the Ocean Claims the Lives of Our Fishermen, We Must Remember

Above: Eva Dickson (Jenkins) of Stratford, PEI, bands a lobster while fishing on the Gulf of St. Lawrence waters. (Photo property of Eva Dickson).

Today marks the anniversary of the deadliest day for fishermen, on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, just off the coast of Prince Edward Island.

The Yankee Gale -- a major storm that ravaged the waters off the coast of our gentle island, for two days -- happened on Oct. 3rd, 1851. Record has it that the storm claimed more than 74 boats; and over 160 fishermen, who'd been fishing for mackerel.

Why bring up a 167 year old event?

In recent months, we have lost two men, Justin MacKay and Chris Melanson, off the coast of Murray Harbour, in a lobster boat collision; and, there's the recent incident where two Tignish fishermen, Moe Getson and Glen DesRoches, died when their fishing boat capsized off the North Cape. These events speak to how deadly our oceans still are, today.

Above: The Stanhope Cemetery, found on the Farmlands/Bubbling Springs Trail in Stanhope, is home to numerous burial sites of the many fishermen who passed away in 1851 Yankee Gale. ​(Photo property of Marshfield Press).

The waters remain a dangerous place, even since the days of our ancestors. Although the contemporary fishing industry has come a long way with navigational technology, better fishing gear, and stronger boats since the days of the Yankee Gale, it is time we recognize how hard our fisherman work, and give credit where credit is due. It's a dangerous occupation; the waters know how to be fierce.

So the next time you're cooking mackerel, eating mussels, or enjoying those lobsters, think of the men and women who brave the ocean to bring us food from the sea.