Dozens of Marine Rescue NSW volunteers have resumed the multi-agency search for a missing 56-year-old fisherman on the state’s South Coast.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said vessels from the Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Tuross Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, and Merimbula units have all been deployed this morning to continue the search.

“The six Marine Rescue NSW vessels resumed the search at 8:30am (Sunday, 20 July).

“They are searching an area offshore from just north of Narooma to south of Bermagui under the direction of Marine Area Command and will continue to do so until otherwise instructed.

“Sea conditions are favourable this morning, with good visibility for our volunteer crews.

“Volunteer radio operators at Marine Rescue Batemans Bay and Bermagui are managing radio communications for today’s effort,” he said.

Inspector Massey said Marine Rescue NSW vessels Batemans Bay 30 and Bermagui 30 assisted the search last night (Saturday, 19 July).

“Volunteer crews and vessels were rapidly deployed just after 8pm. They searched offshore waters for more than four hours and were stood down for the night at 12:45am today (Sunday, 20 July).

“The Marine Rescue Batemans Bay and Bermagui crews said sea conditions were favourable last night, but it was quite dark with little assistance from the moon, and they had to navigate around numerous whales,” Inspector Massey said.

Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.