Coast Guard suspends search for two missing Guam fishermen

USCG file Photo

GUAM — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for two fishermen reported missing near First Beach, Ipan, Talofofo, Guam Tuesday.

The Coast Guard notified the family members and officially suspended its active searches for Joseph Castro, 25, and Evan Paulino, 26 at 6 p.m. pending any further developments.

Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center Guam watchstanders coordinated search patterns for surface and air assets that searched an area more than 25 miles along the coastline between Cocos Lagoon and Pago Bay on the south eastern side of Guam. The search patterns extended10 miles out to sea from the reef line.

Rescue crews searched 175 square nautical miles, an area approximately the size of Guam.

Coast Guard Cutter Washington, Coast Guard Cutter Assateague, Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, Guam Fire Department Rescue I, Rescue II, Rescue III, and Guam Police Department Anchor I saturated the water and coastline for four days.

“After exhaustive efforts searching with the Navy, Guam Fire Department, and Guam Police Department over the last few days, it’s with a heavy heart that we suspend this search,” said Capt. Thomas Sparks, Commander, Coast Guard Sector Guam. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Castro and Paulino families.”

Weather conditions during the search were winds of 17 mph and seas of three to five feet.


If you have any problems viewing this article, please report it here.