The area MHA says every time there is a loss at sea, it opens old wounds for many.

A man in his early forties lost his life not far from the wharf in Westport on the Baie Verte Peninsula Wednesday after his boat overturned. He was in an open boat with his catch of squid when something went wrong.

People close to the situation say he was not wearing a lifejacket, and did not know how to swim.

Baie Verte-Green Bay MHA Lin Paddock says this is grieving time and he’s confident that people will continue to look out for each other.

“It’s about embracing his family and friends, the community of Westport…there’ll be another day to look at investigating these types of incidents and how we improve safety in the fishery at large,” said Paddock.