The search has been suspended for a missing Shoalhaven fisherman, after his empty boat was recovered off the South Coast.
Emergency services were called to Batemans Bay Marina about 8pm on Saturday (19 July 2025), after a fisherman had failed to return from a day’s fishing trip.
Police have been told a 56-year-old Geoff Buchanan, had left the marina about 6am in an 8 metre Arvor cruiser. He was spoken to about 10am but when he failed to return, emergency services were alerted about 7.20pm.
Marine Area Command (MAC) immediately launched a search operation, with assistance from officers attached to South Coast Police District, Marine Rescue NSW and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
The search continued, with the search area expanded to as far as Port Stephens in the north and south to the Victorian border.
About 1.20pm yesterday (Tuesday July 22) AMSA’s Challenger aircraft located the boat about 80 nautical miles east of Narooma. No one was on board.
Fisherman on board a nearby commercial fishing vessels assisted, to stop the vessel in challenging conditions.
The boat will be towed to shore.
Patrols by Marine Area Command will continue in the coming days.
