N.S. RCMP to resume aerial activity for 5 missing fishermen

The RCMP said it will resume aerial activity for the five missing fishermen from the Chief Williams Saulis fishing vessel on Monday.

RCMP Air Services said the search will include approximately 100 kilometres of coastline from Digby Gut to Harbourville by helicopter.

READ MORE: RCMP say search for missing scallop boat to resume after holidays

In the meantime, the Nova Scotia RCMP and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team (URT) are currently in the planning stages to partner with the Canadian Coast Guard to provide a platform to assist in recovery efforts which will include sonar exploration.

RCMP said it will share an expected date for this activity once known.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“The waters are very violent and the current is strong and the waves are so high,” said RCMP Sgt. Andrew Joyce.

“The sonar capabilities on the platform that we could provide is very much insufficient for those conditions. We’re hoping the Canadian Coast Guard will enable us to perform that function.”

2:04 HMCS Toronto crews returns early after 191 days at sea

Joyce said police are searching for the boats in hopes of finding their bodies so they can be taken home to their grieving families.

The Chief William Saulis fishing vessel was carrying six men when it sank early in the morning on Dec. 15.

The body of one of its crewmen, Michael Drake, was recovered later that day. The other five men – Aaron Cogswell, Leonard Gabriel, Daniel Forbes, Eugene Francis and the boat’s captain, Charles Roberts – are still lost.

–With files from the Canadian Press