3. Blessing of the Fleet

The Blessing of the Fleet is an annual religious tradition adopted by many fishing villages and ports throughout the world to bless the fishing fleet before the opening of the fishing season. The blessing is an opportunity to pray for a good season and the safe return of the fleet at the end of the season. Some fishers also invite their local priest to bless their newly made rock lobster pots for good luck in a private ceremony for family and friends at their homes.

Fremantle’s Blessing of the Fleet is traditionally held just before the opening of the rock lobster season in October-November when the boats have been overhauled and repainted in the months leading up to the new fishing season. Fremantle’s blessings of the fleet are performed under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church and organised by local ethnic communities, principally the Italian Molfettese and Sicilian communities but have also involved the Croatian and Portuguese communities.

The costumes displayed are worn by children during those ceremonies.