Body of missing fisherman found

A missing fisherman at the centre of a massive search off southwestern Nova Scotia last week isn’t coming home alive. But despite this tragic outcome, at least he was coming home.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre says at around 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15, search and rescue personnel were able to locate the missing captain of the fishing vessel Miss Janet.

“Searchers had found personal effects floating on the water, which enabled them to eventually find him,” the rescue centre said in a tweet on Twitter, where it had been providing updates about the search.

“Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the families, friends, and community,” the JRCC said. “His remains will now be transported ashore, transferred to the RCMP, and returned to his family.”

Lt-Col Brian Owens said the missing fisherman was found via air and sea assets working in tandem. He said he was found about 10 nautical miles west of Yarmouth.

“Tragic, but there is closure in this case for the family,” Owens said in that the fisherman was found, which sadly isn’t always the case in such tragedies at sea.

There had been a largescale search underway for the 54-year-old man after the crew discovered in the early morning hours of Thursday,

Oct. 14, that he was not aboard the vessel.

He was part of a four-member crew aboard the fishing boat, which was on its way from Shelburne to Saulnierville.

Three members of the crew had gone to bed and it wasn’t until one of them woke up around 4 a.m. on Thursday that they realized the captain was gone.

They immediately radioed for help to advise search and rescue officials of the man overboard incident. Search and rescue assets were tasked as a search was launched.

The search had been complicated by the fact that it was not known when or where the man had gone missing.

The captain was a member of the Sipekne’katik First Nation community. Last Friday, prior to the news of the fisherman being found, Chief Mike Sack had issued a statement.

“As our community continues to hold strong in support of one another during this difficult time, we also want to recognize everyone with the search and rescue teams, private boat operators and commercial fishers in St. Mary’s Bay who have graciously joined the effort to bring our brother home,” he said. “We ask for continued privacy and support as we manage through the days ahead.”

As the search was being carried out, messages and prayers for the man’s hopeful safe return were widely shared on social media.

As the fishing industry does in times like this, people prayed for the best possible outcome, but also hoped that if the fisherman couldn’t be found alive, that at least he be found to be brought home to his family and friends.

The search which began Thursday, Oct. 14 and extended into Friday, Oct. 15, saw a total area just shy of 2,000 square nautical miles searched.

Involved in the search were several Coast Guard vessels, including the Sir William Alexander, the Clarks Harbour and the Corporal Teather – the latter of which had escorted the vessel and remaining crew into port in Yarmouth on Thursday.

Other search assets included a CH149 Cormorant, a CH130 Hercules, a PAL aircraft and fast rescue crafts.

Commercial fishing vessels that are part of the Auxiliary Coast Guard – such as the Nautical Nixon, Kaitlyn Grace and Jacob’s Journey – were asked tasked to assist in the search.

Other commercial vessels and Sipekne’katik vessels joined in the search as well.

While fog had caused some visibility issues during the evening last Thursday, on Friday conditions had been favourable as the search continued and eventually concluded. Winds were light with a 12C air temperature, a 14C water temperature and calm seas. Missing fishing captain found on Day 2 of massive search off southwestern N.S.