Search for missing Shea Heights fishermen handed over to RCMP
The search and rescue operation for the missing boaters is now a recovery mission
Officials from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax say the search for two missing boaters from Shea Heights neighbourhood of St. John's is being handed off to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
That means the search for the men has changed from a search and rescue effort to a recovery.
In a release, Rear Admiral John Newton said the JRCC is grateful for the support of community members who aided in the search over the past few days, and that they are sending sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims in this tragedy.
"All of us in the Joint Rescue Coordination team understand the hard work of fishermen at sea and realize the many dangers of this vocation," he said.
"At the same time, we recognize the great spirit in this proud community and we benefit time and again from the selfless actions of fellow fishermen who come to the rescue in times of great peril. "
The RCMP said on Thursday that with the JRCC ceasing its search efforts at sea, they will now look to conduct a search from land.
Police said they've had discussions with local ground search and rescue officials on how to best conduct the search.
RCMP said it will probably focus on accessible areas along the coastline and they've asked local helicopter companies to contact them if they notice anything of interest.
Poor weather conditions and heavy rain forecast for Friday may make the search more difficult, police said.
Earlier on Thursday, Wade Spurrell, assistant commissioner for the Canadian Coast Guard, said the decision on when the rescue effort becomes a recovery effort would be made by the JRCC in Halifax.
"They'll look at all the variables — water temperature, sea state, how the crews were dressed, and at some point, we'll look at, when we've figured we've exhausted a lot of those possibilities, we'll look at downsizing [the search]," he said.
"That's something that we're talking about. A search like this, it would go right to the commander of the search and rescue region."
Fog, rain a hindrance
The weather was also a factor, he said.
"It's far from ideal conditions. We've got fog and rain, and obviously it's not conducive to aircraft. Ships can continue to search in this kind of weather, but you're not getting a real good quality search at this point."
Eugene Walsh, his son Keith Walsh Sr. and grandson Keith Walsh Jr., as well as family friend Bill Humby, were on the Pop's Pride when the open boat ran into trouble in Freshwater Bay on Tuesday.
Family members sounded the alarm when they didn't return home on schedule. Two bodies were found late Tuesday afternoon at different locations, but in the general vicinity of fishing gear near Cape Spear.
Ships can continue to search in this kind of weather, but you're not getting a real good quality search at this point.- Wade Spurrell
The boat was underwater when search crews arrived Tuesday night, which made it harder to find.
Meanwhile, the union that represents thousands of fishermen in the province issued a statement Thursday offering its "deepest condolences" to family and friends of the dead and missing fishermen.
"This latest tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of how dangerous the profession of fishing is and how unforgiving the sea from which so many earn their living can be," said FFAW-Unifor in a statement.