Halifax, Canada— Two crew members died Saturday when a commercial fishing vessel capsized in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia.
The vessel went down around 5:10 a.m. on October 25, 2026 about 22 nautical miles southeast of Halifax Harbour. The crew had been hauling lobster traps overnight. A distress beacon activated automatically when the hull rolled. The signal hit the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax.
Canadian Coast Guard said the sea was rough, with two-meter swells and 25-knot winds. The 12-meter vessel, identified as a licensed inshore lobster boat, was reported to be heavy with catch and water on deck. It listed to starboard, then flipped.
A second fishing boat nearby heard the mayday relay and reached the site in 18 minutes. The crew found debris, floating traps, and two bodies in survival suits face-down in the water. They pulled them aboard and attempted CPR.
"We got there fast. The boat was gone. Just traps and fuel slick," the captain of the assisting vessel told CBC News by radio. "They were in suits, but the water is cold. Ten degrees. You don't last long."
A Coast Guard lifeboat and a Cormorant helicopter were scrambled. The helicopter crew winched a rescue swimmer down to search for a possible third man, after initial confusion about crew numbers. The owner ashore confirmed only two were on board.
CBC News reported both victims were experienced fishermen from Eastern Shore communities, ages 38 and 51. Their names were withheld pending family notification. Transport Safety Board of Canada investigators boarded the assisting vessel to interview the crew.
The vessel’s emergency raft was found still secured to its cradle, suggesting it never auto-released. Investigators will examine whether shifting catch and water ingress on the working deck destabilized the hull. The Atlantic inshore fleet has seen three similar capsizes this season.
The bodies were transferred to the Coast Guard base in Dartmouth. The wreck has not been located. Sonar searches were suspended at nightfall due to weather.
The area remains under a small craft advisory. Fishing activity was paused for the rest of the day.
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