Cullercoats RNLI Helm - the importance of National Fishing Remembrance Day
This Sunday marks the very first National Fishing Remembrance Day, an event that will be recognised throughout the UK’s coastal communities, to acknowledge the tragedy, danger and loss encountered by fishers and their families over the centuries.
Cullercoats RNLI is at the heart of what was once a thriving fishing village and whilst many of the fishing boats have gone, memories live on of those lost at sea.
Peter Clark is a local fisherman and also a crew member and helm on Cullercoats lifeboat.
Peter explains the importance of the Fishing Remembrance Day to him, his family and the wider fishing community: 'For a lot of families who have lost somebody, particularly where they have never been recovered from the sea, there isn't always closure like families ashore would get.
'A National Day of Remembrance can highlight the sacrifice these families ultimately made. Spots like the memorial at Fiddler's Green in North Shields bring families and friends of lost people together.'
The Remembrance Day is also an opportunity to highlight the dangers associated with working at sea and promote safer working practices. Fishing is one of the UK's most hazardous professions, with 11,000 fishers involved in the catch and landing of seafood in the UK.*
Peter recalls one of his earliest childhood memories as his dad coming home to tell him that one of his best friends had been lost at sea. Since then, Peter has both lost and searched for friends and colleagues and has witnessed the anguish when family members haven't returned home from work.
As both a fisherman and helm, having joined the Cullercoats RNLI crew almost 30 years ago, Peter has seen numerous changes over the years in relation to the attitudes towards risk, as well as the safety devices that are now available.
Peter says: 'There has been a big improvement over the years with the introduction of safety equipment such as Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) and float-free life rafts. These are saving lives and sadly would have saved many in the past had they been around and used more widely.'
Peter also recognises the awareness raising water safety work undertaken by the RNLI, acknowledging that: 'The man overboard course that the RNLI ran opened a lot of people's eyes to how long it's possible to survive in the water without floatation and safety equipment- and that was in a warm pool! You do see a lot more people wearing PFDs now, as a result.'
Peter's dual role also gives him a unique perspective on safety at sea: 'Being a helm and a fisherman, I think I have a greater understanding and respect for what the sea can do, how quickly weather can change and how fast things can get out of hand when something goes wrong. Equally, being a helm and being involved in bringing people back who have not made it gives you a feeling of greater responsibility to ensure we make everything as safe as possible for myself and my crew at sea.'
Events will take place around the coast on Sunday, with a gathering at North Shields' Fiddler's Green, where the statue of a fisherman provides a poignant reminder of the region's fishing history.
For RNLI water safety advice, please visit: https://rnli.org/safety
Notes to Editor
*Source: 11,000 UK fishers – The Seafarers Charity
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea, with Cullercoats lifeboat station having been established in 1848. The RNLI runs water safety events to promote safer working practices for those who work at sea.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.