Lobster hostilities lead to boat sinkings in Maine

Lobsterman Kendall Delano sands last year's paint off lobster buoys

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The sinking of two lobster boats is rekindling memories of hostilities among lobstermen two years ago that led to a near-fatal shooting, boats being sunk and a barrage of lobster trap vandalism along Maine's lobster-rich coast.

Someone this week sabotaged two lobster boats moored in Friendship harbor, causing them to flood with water and sink.

Investigators say they don't know if the sinkings were spurred by a personal vendetta or a territorial feud.

Two years ago, hostilities among Maine lobstermen were especially in high gear.

On Matinicus Island, a lobsterman shot a fellow lobsterman in the neck in a dispute over lobster traps.

Two weeks later, somebody sank two lobster boats and partially sank a third in Owls Head.