On Sunday, members of the community, seafood industry, and organizations, such as Virginia Marine Resources Commission and Smith Point Sea Rescue gathered in Reedville alongside Ocean Harvesters and Omega Protein for the 54th Annual Blessing of the Fleet, a long standing tradition honoring the men and women who work on the water.

Reverend William Stafford Whittaker opened the ceremony with a Call to Worship, reminding attendees that fishing remains “both a dangerous and a very important occupation.” He noted that many in the Northern Neck dedicate their lives to this work, providing “food, medicine, and other resources for the good of the wider world.”

The annual blessing, he said, was a moment to sing their praises and ask for the Lord’s protection of them.

This year’s principal speaker was Taylor Deihl, public affairs manager for Ocean Harvesters. Deihl asked not only for the Lord’s blessing but also for the public’s recognition and support of a diverse group of industries that often stretch across generations.

Although she holds a master’s degree in social work, she pointed to early indicators that she would end up following in her father’s footsteps, pointing to “my obsessive monitoring of the fish catch sheet for as long as I can remember.”

“One of my proudest moments was when my dad — a menhaden boat captain — broke the record, and still holds it today, for the most fish caught on the East Coast.”

Deihl emphasized the scale and diversity of Virginia’s seafood sector, calling it a cornerstone of the state’s economy and coastal culture. Appointed to the Virginia Marine Products Board in 2022 and elected chair in 2024, she now helps lead the marketing arm for the state’s seafood industry, which includes representatives from the clam, oyster, aquaculture, crab, and menhaden sectors.

“It is critical that we continue to position Virginia marine products among the top in the nation so that they can thrive and sustain our future generations all over the state and right here in the Northern Neck,” she said. “Many people don’t realize this, but Virginia is the largest seafood landing state on the East Coast by volume and ranks approximately fourth in the nation behind only Alaska, Louisiana, and Mississippi.”

Virginia watermen harvest more than 50 commercially valuable species, from oysters and crabs to striped bass, clams, and scallops — a combined output that helps produce more than 123 million meals each year, she noted.

Deihl said telling the story of Virginia seafood is about more than promotion. “It’s about supporting an industry that sustains jobs, families, coastal communities, and a way of life that has existed here for generations.”

But she also noted the challenges facing the industry, from shifting economic conditions and environmental pressures to increasingly complex political debates. “Too often, commercial watermen find themselves targeted by special interest groups and outside organizations that may not fully understand or respect the realities of the industry,” she said. She urged continued support for “policies grounded in facts and sound management.”

Deihl encouraged attendees to champion the industry by buying local seafood, staying informed about the pressures facing watermen and processors, and standing with the community during difficult seasons.

“We have to continue telling the story of Virginia seafood — the sustainability efforts taking place every day, the economic importance of the industry, and most importantly, the hard working men and women behind it all,” she said.