Island Fishermen’s Wives Association
Island Fishermen’s Wives Association
The Island Fishermen’s Wives Association (I.F.W.A.) was founded in the autumn of 1989 in response to the deaths of two Stonington fishermen who drowned within 6 weeks of each other. The founders felt that the area needed a memorial to all fishermen lost at sea and as a reminder for safety precautions to the living.
Since the I.F.W.A. met their original goal, they have found a need in the community that they were able to fill. Over the years they have sponsored many fishing-related school programs and scholarships.
They are members of several other fishing organizations and they also supply emergency financial assistance to fishermen and their families.
I.F.W.A. have an ongoing commitment to preserve the fishing heritage in the community and to educate the public about the fishing industry. One goal includes helping their community to build an indoor pool to ensure that no one’s life is shortened by thier inability to swim.
They are currently sponsoring Coast Guard approved safety training classes to ensure that all local fishermen know what to do in life threatening situations.
All proceeds from brochures, calenders, and Fishermen’s Day help to ensure that all our local fishermen have as much help and education they can to keep themselves and their crews safe.
What constitutes a Hall of Fame fisherman? We take into consideration what makes an exemplary fisherman as other fisherman see him/her. That person has fished up through the ranks from outboard to present size boat and has always fished as his vocation. He/she didnt take it up late in life and has learned from someone else and in return has passed that knowledge forward to the younger fishermen. He/she has helped retrieve boats, traps and in some unfortunate cases bodies. He/she doesnt try to take all the catch for themselves and isn’t a bully. In some cases, may even better the industry. He/she takes time for questions that need answers and respects the ocean.
Some may think this is a ‘lost at Sea’ plaque but that is not the case. Sadly there have been a few that have been lost at sea but there are people who meet the above criteria who are still amongst the living. We dont wait until they have passed on to consider them. There may even be some years where we may only have one that truly meets the criteria.
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