Body Found Floating Near New Bedford Harbor Likely Fisherman

NEW BEDFORD — A body found at the entrance to New Bedford Harbor on Saturday is likely that of a fisherman reported missing earlier this month — although state police say positive identification is pending.

According to a Massachusetts State Police spokesman, members of the U.S. Coast Guard out of Menemsha discovered the body at 12:01 p.m. Saturday floating between the New Bedford Harbor entrance channel markers 1 and 2.

The Fairhaven Harbormaster and the New Bedford Police Marine Unit recovered the body and brought it to Union Wharf in Fairhaven.

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A state police detective with the Bristol D.A.'s office and a state police Crime Scene Services trooper responded, observing the body on the harbormaster's boat.

State police said that based on the man's clothing and physical condition, he is believed to be the crewmember discovered missing from the fishing vessel Susan Rose before dawn on July 1.

Although her home port is Point Judith, Rhode Island, the Susan Rose was heading to New Bedford from near Martha's Vineyard when crew members realized one man was missing.

He was thought to have gone overboard off the coast of No Man's Land, and his disappearance sparked a Coast Guard search for more than a day.

The search was called off on July 2 after Coast Guard crews searched over 1,000 square nautical miles, using 53 asset hours, according to a Coast Guard tweet.

State police said positive identification of the man's body is pending.

A Bristol County District Attorney's office spokesperson said the Medical Examiner's Office is working to identify the body this week.

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