The Maine Department of Marine Resources identified the fisherman whose body was found floating beside his boat in Penobscot Bay on Wednesday as 36-year-old Jeremy Philbrook of Vinalhaven Island.

Department spokesman Jeff Nichols said Philbrook was a lobsterman who fished from his home on the island.

Another lobsterman came across Philbrook’s empty fishing boat – the 29-foot-long Outnumbered – in Hurricane Sound around 1:43 p.m. Wednesday and pulled Philbrook out of the water before calling for help, Nichols said. Officers from the Maine Marine Patrol arrived and tried to revive Philbrook. The cause of his death is unknown and the Coast Guard is investigating the incident, said Lt. Scott McCann.

“We definitely want to know, but a lot of different circumstances could have come into play here. Did he hit his head, did he get caught up in the gear and fall overboard? We don’t know yet,” McCann said.

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud had met Philbrook’s wife, Keely, and their three children during a meeting with lobstermen on Vinalhaven Island last weekend. Michaud issued a statement Thursday.

“My thoughts go out to the family and friends of Jeremy Philbrook, particularly his wife, Keely, and their three daughters. As a family they have suffered a terrible loss and I hope that they take some measure of comfort in knowing that they have the support and love of their community,” Michaud said.