Search for missing Shea Heights fishermen handed over to RCMP

Officials from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax saythe search for two missing boaters from Shea Heights neighbourhood of St. John'sis being handed off to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

That meansthe search for the men has changed from a search and rescue effort to a recovery.

• Better to know what happened, says skipper who helped find Shea Heights fishermen

In a release, Rear Admiral John Newton said the JRCC is grateful for the support of community members who aided in the search over the past few days, and that they are sending sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims in this tragedy.

"All of us in the Joint Rescue Coordination team understand the hard work of fishermen at sea and realize the many dangers of this vocation," he said.

"At the same time, we recognize the great spirit in this proud community and we benefit time and again from the selfless actions of fellow fishermen who come to the rescue in times of great peril. "

TheRCMPsaid on Thursday that with theJRCCceasing its search efforts at sea, they will now look to conduct asearch from land.

Police said they'vehad discussions with local ground search and rescue officials on how to best conduct the search.

RCMP said it will probably focus on accessible areas along the coastline and they've asked local helicopter companies to contact them if they notice anything of interest.

Poor weather conditionsand heavy rain forecast forFriday may make the search more difficult, police said.

Earlier on Thursday,Wade Spurrell, assistant commissioner for the CanadianCoast Guard, said the decision on when the rescue effort becomes a recovery effort wouldbe made by the JRCC in Halifax.

"They'll look at all the variables water temperature, sea state, how the crews were dressed, and at some point, we'll look at, when we've figured we've exhausted a lot of those possibilities, we'll look at downsizing [the search]," he said.

"That's something that we're talking about. A search like this, it would go right to the commander of the search and rescueregion."

Fog, rain a hindrance

The weather wasalso a factor, he said.

"It's far from ideal conditions. We've got fog and rain, and obviously it's not conducive to aircraft. Ships can continue to searchin this kind of weather, but you're not getting a real good quality search at this point."

Eugene Walsh, his son Keith Walsh Sr. and grandson Keith Walsh Jr., as well as family friend BillHumby, were on thePop's Pride when the open boatran into trouble in Freshwater Bay on Tuesday.

Family members sounded the alarmwhen they didn't return home on schedule. Two bodies were found late Tuesday afternoon at different locations,butin the general vicinityoffishing gear near Cape Spear.

Ships can continue to search in this kind of weather, but you're not getting a real good quality search at this point.- Wade Spurrell

The boat was underwater when searchcrews arrived Tuesday night, which made it harder to find.

Meanwhile, the union that represents thousands of fishermen in the province issued a statement Thursday offering its "deepest condolences" to family and friends of the dead and missing fishermen.

"This latest tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of how dangerous the profession of fishing is and how unforgiving the sea from which so many earn their living can be," saidFFAW-Uniforin a statement.