Search Suspended for Missing Fishing Vessel 'Lily Jean' Off Gloucester; One Body Found, Six Remain Missing
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the search for survivors from the fishing vessel Lily Jean, which sank in the frigid waters off Cape Ann last week. The decision comes after crews scoured more than 1,000 square miles of ocean, recovering one body and an unoccupied life raft. Six crew members remain missing and are presumed lost.
The 72-foot boat sent out an emergency distress signal via its EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) in the early hours of Friday, Jan. 30. Despite immediate broadcast alerts and attempts to contact the vessel, there was no response. A multi-asset search involving aircraft, cutters, and small boats was launched shortly after.
Captain Sebastian Noto, a longtime friend and fellow fisherman of the Lily Jean's captain, Gus Sanfilippo, shared details of their final conversation just hours before the vessel disappeared. "We were in touch around 3 a.m.," Noto told local media. "He said, 'I quit. It's too cold.' He was calm, but the freezing conditions were icing up the air holes. We always worked together—like glue."
Noto, who was fishing roughly 30 miles east at the time, grew concerned when he could no longer reach Sanfilippo. He speculates a bilge pump failure may have led to the sinking but noted the crew should have had time to issue a mayday call and don survival gear. "It's a guess," he admitted. "But even taking on water, a boat that size doesn't go down instantly."
In a somber press release, Capt. Jamie Frederick, commander of Coast Guard Sector Boston, stated, "The decision to suspend the search was incredibly difficult. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and the entire Gloucester community during this heartbreaking time." The search was suspended on Jan. 31 after all reasonable efforts were exhausted.
The Gloucester fishing community, no stranger to maritime tragedy, is once again in mourning. The Lily Jean was a known vessel in the local fleet, and its loss underscores the perennial dangers faced by commercial fishermen, especially during the harsh New England winter.
Community Voices:
"Gus was a salt-of-the-earth captain who knew these waters better than anyone. This is a devastating blow to our tight-knit harbor. We're holding onto hope for the families." — Martha Chen, Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association historian.
"Another preventable tragedy? Where are the mandatory safety drills and updated equipment checks? We keep losing good people to the same old risks. The system is failing our fishermen." — Jake Morrow, retired Coast Guard marine inspector and local safety advocate.
"My brother worked with Gus for years. This isn't just news—it's our reality. The sea gives, and it takes. Right now, it's taken too much." — Carlos Ribeiro, Gloucester fisherman.
Reporting contributed by coast guard officials and local affiliates. Image credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty.