The bodies of Shawn Arsenault, 64, and his girlfriend Felicia Daley, 54, were found Wednesday, June 11, aboard their sunken fishing boat in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, following a three-day search operation.
The couple departed Rock Harbor in Orleans, Massachusetts, on Sunday, June 8, aboard the 30-foot white-hulled fishing vessel F/V Seahorse for a clamming expedition. The boat, which featured a painted mermaid on the bow and “Seahorse” inscribed on the stern, was bound for waters near the Target Ship Wreck off Eastham in Cape Cod Bay.
Arsenault’s brother Paul told authorities that Shawn had stated he would not return until he collected his 30-bag limit of clams. The harbormaster in Orleans reported the vessel missing Tuesday morning after observing Arsenault’s white Ford pickup truck still parked at the marina two days after the boat’s departure.
The search operation commenced Tuesday morning when the Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched an extensive search of the fishing area. Search crews were deployed to both sides of Cape Cod after a cellphone ping indicated the vessel’s last known location approximately two miles offshore from Chatham, Massachusetts.
A recreational fisherman spotted the missing Seahorse around 2:00 p.m. Wednesday near Brewster beaches. The Coast Guard Cutter William Sparling arrived at the scene within 30 minutes, accompanied by divers from the Massachusetts Environmental Police and Massachusetts State Police. The vessel was discovered in approximately 25 feet of water, about five miles off Eastham.
Paul Arsenault indicated that the bodies were found inside the boat’s wheelhouse without life jackets, and no distress call had been made. He believes the vessel became entangled with underwater wreckage, causing the incident to occur too rapidly for the occupants to contact emergency services.
The Coast Guard confirmed receiving reports that Arsenault was observed discarding electronic equipment overboard shortly after leaving the harbor Sunday morning. Coast Guard Commander Cliff Graham stated that while reports indicated equipment was thrown overboard, the agency could not confirm the specific nature of the discarded items.
Sam Miller and her father discovered a GPS unit bearing the designation “F/V Seahorse” while walking on a nearby beach Sunday morning. The family attempted to return the device by leaving it with a note on Arsenault’s truck at the marina. When the truck remained untouched the following day, they contacted the harbormaster, who subsequently alerted the Coast Guard.
Orleans Harbormaster Nathan Sears explained that the vessel had recently experienced mechanical difficulties but appeared to have been repaired prior to Sunday’s departure. He noted that quahog draggers like the Seahorse pull large steel cages behind the boats, and if these become entangled on the ocean floor, particularly during nighttime fishing, vessels can capsize rapidly.
Arsenault had spent six years saving to purchase the Seahorse, which represented the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Sunday’s clamming trip marked only his third outing as the vessel’s owner. He had recently installed new radar and fish-finding equipment and expressed enthusiasm about the upgraded technology.
Paul Arsenault described his brother as someone who “just loved being on the water” and had operated boats throughout his career from New Bedford to Provincetown. He characterized Shawn as a generous community member who regularly prepared meals for a neighbor with Parkinson’s disease.
The couple had been dating for several months and were described as being devoted to each other. Daley’s friend Scott Amerault noted that she was a loyal companion, while other friends remembered Arsenault’s boisterous personality and sense of humor.
Charter operator Hap Farrell, familiar with the vessel, expressed concerns about its stability, noting that the boat had a round hull design and carried equipment positioned high on the vessel. He suggested that if the boat became entangled while dragging, it could overturn quickly.
The Coast Guard’s search efforts were hampered by fog and thunderstorms, with officials noting that small craft advisories were in effect during portions of the operation. Weather conditions on Sunday were not considered a contributing factor to the vessel’s disappearance.
Commander Graham acknowledged the extensive support from maritime response partners and members of the fishing and local community, stating that their assistance directly contributed to locating the vessel and providing closure for the families. The Coast Guard continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and requests anyone with information to contact the Sector Southeastern New England command center at 866-819-9128.