Cairns Water Police will continue to search for a fisherman at Cape Flattery after authorities were alerted when the 66-year-old Cooktown man went missing from a fishing vessel, the Southern Venture II, on June 26.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) initiated the search and rescue operation for the missing doryman which was centred approximately 18 nautical miles north of Cape Flattery and covered a search area of some 328 square kilometres. AMSA handed coordination of the search over to police yesterday.
All shipping vessels in the area were also alerted during the search, involving three fixed wing aircraft, five rotary wing, volunteer marine rescue and Queensland Police Service vessels.
The search was suspended late Wednesday with officers on board Police Vessel Perry Irwin and QGAir Rescue 510 continuing aerial searches of the shoreline between Cape Flattery and Cape Melville.
Far North Tactical Operations Inspector Pete Flori said the search has now been suspended, however there will be a review expected in the next 48 hours.
"At this stage hopes of locating the missing man alive are fading," Inspector Flori said.
"We have grave concerns for his welfare as our continued search has failed to find any debris."
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