01/31/2026
With heavy hearts, the Stonington Lobster Trap Tree community shares our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Captain Thomas Williams, whose passing this week is a profound loss. Captain Williams, 54, of Stonington is well known as the captain of the fishing vessel F/V Heritage. He was more than a fisherman—he was part of the fabric of this coastal community, someone whose life and livelihood were tied to the waters we all cherish. His presence, his work, and his spirit will be deeply missed along the docks and far beyond them. During this incredibly difficult time, we hold his family and friends close in our thoughts and send strength, comfort, and love to all who are grieving. May the memories you shared and the legacy he leaves behind bring some measure of peace. And may this tragedy, and the one in our sister fishing village of Gloucester MA, serve as reminders of the incredible dangers and sacrifices endured by the hard working, brave individuals who support our communities by working in this industry. Our tree remains a tribute to them.
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A message from NEFSA Chairman and Chief Strategist Dustin Delano.
The last week of January will forever be etched into the heart of the fishing community — a week marked by devastation, grief, and an overwhelming weight that words can barely carry.
Our fishermen already fight every single day just to survive. Low prices. Crushing regulations. Constant pressure from every direction. They are farmers of the sea, yet in this country they are still not recognized or respected on equal footing as farmers on land. They risk everything to feed this nation, and too often, they do it without a safety net, without appreciation, and without understanding.
The loss in Stonington, Connecticut is something I still can’t fully wrap my head around. No one should ever have to endure what the Williams family is facing. The pain, the shock, the emptiness left behind — it’s unimaginable. My heart breaks for them, and for a community that feels every loss as if it were their own.
My heart also goes out to NEFSA’s President, Aaron — someone I respect more than most in this world. No words can ease the burden of losing a brother, let alone being forced to navigate that grief while holding together a family and a community that looks to you for strength. No one should have to carry that weight.
And while the community was still reeling, still grieving, still trying to make sense of one tragedy — another struck. News came out of Gloucester that the F/V Lily Jean capsized offshore with seven crewmen aboard. Seven families thrown into uncertainty. Seven lives placed in the hands of the sea. Another reminder of just how dangerous this work is, and how quickly everything can change.
This industry is built on resilience, but resilience does not mean invincibility. Fishermen are tough, but they are human. Behind every boat is a family. Behind every crewman is someone waiting at home. Every loss sends shockwaves through an entire way of life.
I can’t begin to fully express my sorrow, my anger, and my heartbreak for the fishing community. This pain is shared. This grief is collective. And it deserves to be seen, respected, and never forgotten.
Hold your loved ones close. Keep these families in your prayers. And never forget the sacrifices made by those who work on the ocean — often at the highest cost imaginable.
💔⚓
