‘Lobster Summit’ makes few waves in local waters

KENNEBUNKPORT – They called it the “Lobster Summit,” with President Bush hoping his meetings Sunday and Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be nicely seasoned by the scenic seaside setting and a taste of Maine’s signature food.

As Coast Guard and Maine Marine Patrol boats zipped by on the Kennebunk River channel Monday morning, Lorin Brooks and his son Shane engaged in a different kind of lobster summit, sorting their crustacean catch on their boat, docked near gift shops and hotels.

“We’ve dealt with it for about 15 years now,” the elder Brooks said, referring to the presence of the first President Bush and now, this weekend, the son’s visit.

The narrow river port area seemed abuzz with boat activity, and on just about every rocky promontory, a camera crew and TV reporter perched under white tents to deliver news of the world leaders’ meeting. But to Brooks, it seemed like a typical summer day.

“We’re used to a lot of traffic down here anyway,” he said.

A graduate of Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Brooks took up lobstering after spending several years at sea, and now his son, home from college, is helping out.

Walker’s Point is surrounded by a mile-wide perimeter, marked with white buoys to keep boats at a distance, Brooks said. But he and other fishermen are permitted to drop their traps in the area, known locally as “the zone.”

“He hasn’t bothered us,” Brooks said of the president. “We can still fish in the zone.”

Before entering the zone to check their traps, fishermen must approach a Coast Guard vessel to be inspected, he said.

Down the river shore a ways, Steve Brettell waited to load his 23-foot boat with sightseers, fishermen or both for the noon trip.

The elder Bush is a regular out on the waters, he said.

“He’s out all the time,” he said, and often approaches Brettell’s boat to talk about fishing with Brettell’s customers.

“He comes over to us all the time. He always asks people where they’re from. He’s real social,” he said, and praised Bush for his gentlemanly and friendly way.

Last summer, Bush and former President Clinton stopped by Brettell’s boat to talk. Brettell said Clinton’s legendary charm was evident even before he began talking. And talk he did.

“We got to chitchat with him,” Brettell said.

Late last week, before Putin’s arrival Sunday, Brettell took a TV crew from Moscow out to film the scene Putin would view on his visit. Brettell said he tried to convince the crew they could shoot on Sunday, but they deferred to a Russian prohibition on filming while Putin was out on the water with the current President Bush.

Monday morning, President Bush took Putin out for a second spin on the ocean.

“They were going out when we were coming in,” Brettell said.

While the presidents were underway, a moving boat perimeter protected them, with Maine Marine Patrol on the outside, Coast Guard boats next, and Secret Service vessels nearest the presidential boat. If Brettell’s boat were to approach, the protectors would respond, he said.

“They’ll shadow you,” he said, following until the boat moves away from the floating defense.

A little later, three big helicopters approached the river channel from the ocean, possibly readying to ferry Putin to the airport. Then the scene reset to a busy summer day at a Maine tourist destination, with large pleasure boats, small fishing vessels and a kayak heading out to sea.

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Check out a photo slideshow from Putin’s visit to Kennebunkport at www.bangordailynews.com.