Two Fishermen Not Heard From Since September 17
The small, tight-knit Southern Labrador community of Mary’s Harbour is still reeling since two of its young commercial fishermen went missing on September 17.
The fishermen, Marc Russell and Joey Jenkins, were due to arrive in their 28-foot vessel, the Island Lady, at Mary’s Harbour around 5 p.m. on Friday the 17th. However, when they did not show, local fishing crews began the search that evening. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) and the Canadian Coast Guard joined the search later on Friday.
But, despite a 10-day search that covered 9,460 square nautical miles of area, the RCMP called off the search for the two fishermen on Sept. 28.
In a media release, the RCMP said the search included resources in the air, on the water and underneath the ocean’s surface.
“All known areas of interest or abnormality have been explored with the use of trained spotters in the air, a side-scan sonar device, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and other specialized underwater equipment,” the RCMP said. “The two men and their vessel remain missing.”
The RCMP said that while the search is over, the investigation for the two men remains open as a missing persons case.
Eight agencies were involved in the search over the last 10 days, including the JRCC, Canadian Armed Forces, Provincial Air Services, Canadian Air Search and Rescue Association, Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, Kraken Robotics, Deer Lake Ground Search and Rescue and the RCMP’s underwater recovery team.
On Sunday, Sept. 19, searchers found a single blue fishing tub, with a second tub and some fishing buckets found later. The items were believed to be from the Island Lady.
However, despite the debris being found, the JRCC suspended the official search that night. This led to Marc Russel’s father, Dwight Russell calling for the search of the Island Lady to resume.
Dwight Russell took to Facebook shortly after the search ended, asking for the search to be extended by 24 hours.
“We cannot lose our sons due to a lack of search and rescue resources,” he wrote.
“This search has only had one day of good search conditions. We need more time! Our boys deserve more time!”
On Monday, Sept, 20, dozens of people attended a protest at the Canadian Coast Guard station in St. John’s calling for additional search and rescue support after the official search was called off. Later that day, the official search resumed once again.
As the water research continued, several vigils were held in communities across southern Labrador and other parts of the province to pray for the safe return of the fishermen.
“This horrible ordeal with these two missing boys … has not only affected families, it has affected all communities along our coast. Everyone is part of the family,” said Ida Powell, who has hosted a prayer service at the Charlottetown wharf.
“When I left there, I just felt at peace. I just felt we had to do something. And from the turnout we had there, it was obvious that all these people were feeling the same thing,” she told CBC.
Powell said the two minutes of silence she organized took place on the Charlottetown wharf in front of Dwight Russell’s boat, the Miss McKenzie. Powell said Mary’s Harbor, St. Lewis, Port Hope Simpson, Red Bay, L’Anse-au-Loup, Cartwright and Happy Valley-Goose Bay also followed with their own ceremonies.
The provincial government alo expressed its concern for the missing Labrador fishermen.
A press release from Derrick Bragg, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture and John Hogan, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, stated “Our thoughts today are with the families and friends of Marc Russell of Mary’s Harbour and Joey Jenkins of St. Lewis, two Labrador fishermen who are missing at sea. The sea can be very unforgiving at times, and incidents such as this are stark reminders of the dangers that thousands of women and men engaged in our fishing industry face each and every day. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to those who have been working around the clock since Friday to assist in the search efforts, and for the love, support and encouragement to their families. As a province we are doing everything we can to support the families and the search for Mr. Russell and Mr. Jenkins.”
The RCMP is asking anyone with further information or possible sightings to contact police in Mary’s Harbour at 709-921-6229.
