The real power in this story is that the fishermen and the bear cub did the same thing in order to work together. They overcame their fear. The cubs were afraid of drowning, and afraid of the humans.
The fishermen were afraid of the cubs and their mother. None of that mattered in the end. The moment the boat captain's eyes met that poor, struggling cub's eyes, fear was forgotten. A connection had been made, and the fishermen acted out of love.