Search and Rescue Underway for Missing Massachusetts Fishing Vessel

Mon Feb 02 2026 19:54:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The U.S. Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue operation for the fishing vessel Lily Jean, which went missing off the coast of Massachusetts. The vessel was carrying seven crew members, including experienced captain Gus Sanfilippo.

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a search and rescue mission for the Lily Jean, a 72-foot fishing vessel that went missing about 25 miles off Cape Ann. The vessel, which had seven crew members onboard, has been lost amid challenging winter conditions typical in New England. Tragically, debris from the vessel has been found along with an unresponsive body in the water. The maritime community is mourning the potential loss of seasoned fishermen from the Gloucester area, highlighting the dangers of commercial fishing.

BOSTON (AP) — A search and rescue operation has been launched by the U.S. Coast Guard for the fishing vessel Lily Jean, which went missing off the coast of Massachusetts, carrying a crew of seven people, according to state senator Bruce Tarr.

The alert was raised early Friday when the 72-foot vessel signaled distress approximately 25 miles offshore from Gloucester. A debris field was later found along with an unresponsive body in the water, and the Coast Guard confirmed it remains in search and rescue mode as efforts continue.

The Lily Jean and its captain, Gus Sanfilippo, a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, were previously featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel’s “Nor’Easter Men.” The crew members are known for enduring perilous weather conditions, often spending long periods at sea to catch haddock, lobster, and flounder from the Georges Bank.

Despite attempts to contact the vessel after receiving the emergency alert, the Coast Guard initiated a search operation that involved an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, a small boat crew, and the Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay.

The search led to the recovery of a debris field and one unresponsive individual from the water, alongside an empty life raft, raising concerns over the safety of the remaining crew. As the historical backdrop of Gloucester's rich fishing industry weighs heavily, this community is once again grappling with the possible loss of beloved fishermen.

Historically, Gloucester is home to tragedies involving commercial fishing; it has long been recognized as America’s oldest working seaport. The fishing community in Gloucester, and indeed all of Massachusetts, is waiting in hopeful trepidation as search efforts continue in challenging weather conditions.

With wind speeds reaching around 27 mph and water temperatures at about 39 degrees, hypothesis suggests that ice build-up could have contributed to instability aboard the vessel. Local officials are grappling with the community's grief while hoping for a miraculous outcome.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed her heartbreak over the situation and extended prayers to the families affected, highlighting the integral role of fishermen in the state’s culture and economy.