NORTH CAPE, P.E.I. - The search for two fishermen from Tignish who have been missing since their fishing boat capsized on Tuesday has been scaled back.
P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue temporarily suspended its search at nightfall Thursday due to unsettled weather moving in. There are expectations that searchers will be back on scene once conditions improve.
“Weather will continue to play a factor in the ability to conduct any activities, but when weather permits, regular recovery surveillance will take place with hopes of providing closure to the families,” P.E.I. RCMP advised Friday.
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre launched a search in the water and from the air Tuesday evening after a member of the crew of the Kyla Anne, 22-year-old Tanner Gaudet, made it to shore at North Cape and alerted authorities of the sinking. There were two other people on the boat, first mate Moe Getson and Captain Glen DesRoches. They are still missing and the RCMP indicates they are presumed drowned.
Local fishing boats have also been involved in the active search.
The JRCC called off its assets Wednesday evening, but P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue volunteers continued to search throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday.
The PEIGSAR members scoured the shoreline in either direction from North Cape, beyond Skinners Pond on the south side and Seacow Pond on the north shore.
There are unconfirmed reports that debris from the Kyla Anne has been located in the Northumberland Strait as far away as West Point, P.E.I., and along the New Brunswick coast.
The Kyla Anne is believed to have just rounded the reef at North Cape on its way to port in Tignish Tuesday afternoon when it suddenly took on water and capsized. Weather conditions at the time had deteriorated as the wind had picked up and the tide was running strong, causing swells and rough seas.
The Journal Pioneer has been covering this story extensively since it started to develop:
Volunteers continue to comb area around North Cape for missing P.E.I. fishermen
Transportation Safety Board investigators are on scene at North Cape
West Prince comes together as search continues for missing fishermen
Search team continues to grow at North Cape
Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre helps with search for missing P.E.I. fishermen
