The body recovered over the weekend from a sunken boat off the Down East coast has been identified as a missing fisherman.
The medical examiner’s office confirmed the body is that of Chester Barrett of South Addison, according to the Maine Marine Patrol.
Chester Barrett and his son, Aaron Barrett, also of South Addison, were reported missing Jan. 18 when they failed to return aboard the vessel Sudden Impact.
The Barretts were traveling between Edmunds and South Addison, so they could drag for scallops close to home a couple days later. While they were traveling, they texted to say they were seeking shelter from rough seas, likely near Cutler.
Their boat sank in 160 feet of water in Moose Cove off Trescott. Divers confirmed the wreckage was discovered last Thursday, and Chester Barrett’s body was recovered Sunday.
The search continues for Aaron Barrett’s body, which wasn’t found on board the Sudden Impact or near it, the marine patrol said Tuesday morning.
“We share our condolences with the family and friends of Chester and Aaron during this difficult time,” Marine Patrol Capt. Colin MacDonald said in a Tuesday statement.
The loss of Sudden Impact underscores the dangers of fishing in general and the hazards that draggers in particular can face. The Barretts were not fishing on Saturday, but draggers can capsize even in mild weather if their gear catches on the bottom.
During a 10-month span over a decade ago, from March 2009 to January 2010, three draggers capsized and sank in Cobscook Bay, taking the lives of five fishermen on two of the boats. The crew of the third boat, Miss Priss, were rescued by a nearby vessel and survived.
BDN writer Bill Trotter contributed to this report.
