A South African minister said on Sunday that the search for the eleven missing fishermen has been called off.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) said in its statement on May 19 that “the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, has received the news that the search for the eleven missing fishermen has been called off with deep sadness.”

The search and rescue operation for the eleven crew members of a sunken fishing trawler in the Atlantic Ocean about 34 nautical miles from the nearest coastal land area has been called off, with an investigation of the incident now underway, says the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).

A review of the search progression, the search efforts, and the continuous lack of sighting reports from the incident start, and the unfavourable weather, led to this decision.

The South African minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, will meet the families of the crew of the sunken hake deep-sea trawl vessel on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

The vessel sank off the West Coast last week.

Meanwhile, the Minister welcomed the appointment of the casualty investigation team by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).

The investigation will determine the cause of the sinking and ensure that all safety protocols were followed.

The South Africa flagged fishing trawler, with 20 crewmen on board, reportedly quickly sunk on Friday afternoon at a location some 34 nautical miles west of Slangkop Point.

3 NSRI rescue craft arrived in the search area and joined fishing vessels in an extensive search operation for 11 missing fishermen in 3 to 4 meter sea swells and 10 to 15 knot winds.

Nine of the crew members were evacuated shortly thereafter and brought to Cape Town, while a search and rescue ensured to find the 11 others still missing, said SAMSA.