Search continues for fishermen lost off Labrador coast with Coast Guard with on site

The search continues today for two fishermen missing in the waters off Labrador’s southeastern coast.

Police say searchers are back in the air and on the water looking for Marc Freeman Russell and Joey Jenkins, who departed the community of Mary’s Harbour Friday morning aboard the Island Lady fishing vessel and didn’t return home.

RCMP Cpl. Jolene Garland says the coast guard ship Captain Molly Kool is also on the water helping out with the search.

View image in full screen

The Canadian Coast Guard’s announcement Sunday that it was handing search efforts over to the RCMP prompted outrage in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Dozens of people gathered outside the coast guard building in St. John’s Monday to demand the agency keep looking for the men.

View image in full screen

The NunatuKavut Community Council, which represents Inuit in southern Labrador, on Monday urged the Joint Rescue Control Centre to resume its search, and provincial Progressive Conservative member Lela Evans said the situation illustrates the dearth of search and rescue services in Labrador.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2021.