The search will continue for a father-and-son fishing crew believed lost off the Down East coast.
Chester Barrett and his son, Aaron Barrett, both of South Addison, were reported missing Saturday evening when they failed to return aboard the vessel Sudden Impact, according to the Maine Marine Patrol.
The Barretts were going to drag for scallops between Edmunds and South Addison on Saturday. While they were out, they texted to say they were seeking shelter from rough seas, likely near Cutler.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its rescue mission on Sunday, and the Sudden Impact is believed to have sunk off the coast.
Fishermen using sonar found an object in about 160 feet of water near Moose Cove at the mouth of the Moose River.
Recovery efforts are continuing Tuesday, with search efforts on shore and on the water between Lubec and South Addison.
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.
