Schoodic lobster boat fatality

When cameras such as these suddenly show up in small town Maine, it often doesn't mean something good. That's been the case in Winter Harbor the past two days, as reporters have showed up to find out more about a fatal boat collision that happened Wednesday afternoon off Schoodic Point. Phil Torrey, captain of Master Simon, survived the collision but Frank Jordan, captain of Linda Diane, did not. Torrey, pictured above, told the media that he couldn't explain why, on a clear day, he didn't see the other boat and why Jordan apparently didn't see him. The BDN and Fenceviewer both have stories about it.
As anyone who has seen a fishermen's memorial (many of which can be found overlooking fishing harbors along the coast) should realize, fishing is a risky business. People can get into routines, focusing on their catch, and lose sight of the potential hazards they may face. Safety groups have raised concerns about people using cell phones or texting while they drive cars, but on the water fishermen often multi-task while they are under way. Whether they should or not is a worthwhile question to ask but, as Torrey said, the way he was operating his boat was "the same thing I've done for 20 years."
Jordan's passing is not a good thing but I am sure many fishermen and others were relieved to learn that the collision was an accident, and not a fishing confrontation gone wrong. Fishing confrontations - such as the shooting out on Matinicus last summer or what was depicted fictionally in the movie "Islander"(which was filmed on Vinalhaven) - happen up and down the coast and have happened in Winter Harbor, but many people believe the media often overplays such incidents and unfairly characterize fishermen as lawless goons.
This incident at least won't reinforce that stereotype. The fatal accident will be tough enough on the Schoodic Peninsula fishing community as it is, without its members having to fight that generalization, too.